Underwriters Laboratories, VA Dept Sign Cooperative Medical Device Cyber R&D Agreement

Global safety consulting and certification science organization Underwriters Laboratories and the Department of Veterans Affairs have signed a cooperative research-and-development agreement to help create cybersecurity standards and certification approaches for medical devices.

UL said Friday the CRADA project will cover veterans’ patient safety and security work through the organization’s Cybersecurity Assurance Program and modify existing and emerging standards and practices on connectable medical devices, medical device data systems and related health information technology.

“Working together with the VA, we will contribute to industry-wide situational awareness of both medical device vulnerabilities and threats,” said Anura Fernando, UL principal engineer for medical software and systems interoperability.

UL expects the project to complete by December and will look to help facilitate exchanges of medical device cybersecurity information, standards and lifecycle requirements to develop a safety certification framework for veterans.