This summary is designed as a record of issues that were discussed during the roundtable on science advisory mechanisms held 26 April 2016. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the consensus opinions of participants at the roundtable or the organizations that provided support for the project, nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organisations imply endorsement by the US or UK governments or other sponsors. Biosecure was commissioned to produce this report.