THE NATIONAL PULSE – Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared to defend gain-of-function research as “important” despite its pandemic “risk” in a 2012 paper exposed by The Australian.
The National Pulse can also reveal similar comments from Fauci during a 2012 conference focused on the controversial form of research.
Hosted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the December event – “Gain-of-Function Research on HPAI H5N1 Viruses” – counted Fauci as a speaker during the introductory session.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director appears to defend gain-of-function research, which increases the virulence and lethality of infectious diseases, as “integral.”
He also describes his agency as “the major funders of most but not all of these people” who carry out the form of research.
Fauci acknowledges the potential drawbacks of gain-of-function research, noting there was “concern” that the “products or information generated by these experiments might be used by others in a way that could harm society either carelessly, in an unregulated fashion, by inexperienced people, or even by deliberate misuse.”
The unearthed comments follow increased scrutiny over the NIAID Director’s ties – via personnel and funds – to the Wuhan Institute of Virology …
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Read more including the full paper: “Research on Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Influenza Virus: The Way Forward”
Natalie Winters is an Investigative Reporter at the National Pulse and contributor to The National Pulse podcast.
