McMaster University is a globally recognized research-intensive institution committed to advancing responsible science and innovation. The university maintains a comprehensive Biosafety Program, supported by specialized facilities, to ensure safe and ethical research involving microorganisms, biological materials, and toxins. McMaster is also home to the Institute for Ethics & Policy Innovation (IEPI), which addresses ethical challenges, risks, and policy gaps that could impact the effectiveness of technologies and interventions in global health and development. IEPI integrates insights from philosophy, social sciences, biomedical science, and health policy to provide evidence-based ethical and policy expertise to researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders across the innovation lifecycle—focusing on mitigating risks and promoting ethical practices in biosafety, public health interventions, and pandemic response.