US restricts funding for high-risk gain-of-function research

The United States is cutting federal funding for dangerous gain-of-function research (GoFR) both domestically and abroad in a bid to eliminate biological risks to the public. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Tuesday welcomed the Trump administration’s latest policy to halt high-risk life sciences research. The comprehensive framework prohibits federally funded dangerous gain-of-function research while establishing stricter oversight of life sciences studies that could pose significant risks to public health, biosecurity, or national security, the department added. The new policy also restricts financial support for research conducted in countries lacking adequate oversight standards, according to HHS. However, the department noted the policy continues to support vital research related to the development of vaccines, therapies, and other medical tools. Earlier in June, then-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released evidence of past US government funding for more than 120 biological laboratories in over 30 countries, including Ukraine. Many of these US-funded biological laboratories conducted research using dangerous and highly contagious pathogens, including gain-of-function research, Gabbard said. For instance, more than 40 biological laboratories in Ukraine were built or supported by the United States, according to declassified US intelligence documents cited by RIA Novosti. Dozens of these biological laboratories were tasked with storing Soviet-era biological weapons, training Ukrainian scientists in biological control, and certifying them to handle extremely dangerous pathogens. The biological laboratories in Ukraine stored anthrax, tularemia, tuberculosis, swine fever, Newcastle disease, MERS, SARS, Marburg, Ebola, Lassa, plague, Rickettsia, and other pathogens, the documents added.