The federal government announced on Tuesday that it is lifting a three-year moratorium on funding controversial research that involves genetically altering viruses in ways that could make them more contagious, more deadly, or both — and that critics say risks triggering a catastrophic pandemic.
Called gain-of-function experiments, the studies aim to understand genetic changes that can make viruses such as bird flu, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) more transmissible from person to person. But if they escaped from the lab, perhaps through human error, the modified viruses could in theory spread quickly or be extremely virulent, increasing the toll of an outbreak.
Unlock this article by subscribing to STAT Plus and enjoy your first 30 days free!
GET STARTEDWhat is it?
STAT Plus is STAT's premium subscription service for in-depth biotech, pharma, policy, and life science coverage and analysis. Our award-winning team covers news on Wall Street, policy developments in Washington, early science breakthroughs and clinical trial results, and health care disruption in Silicon Valley and beyond.
What's included?
- Daily reporting and analysis
- The most comprehensive industry coverage from a powerhouse team of reporters
- Subscriber-only newsletters
- Daily newsletters to brief you on the most important industry news of the day
- Online intelligence briefings
- Frequent opportunities to engage with veteran beat reporters and industry experts
- Exclusive industry events
- Premium access to subscriber-only networking events around the country
- The best reporters in the industry
- The most trusted and well-connected newsroom in the health care industry
- And much more
- Exclusive interviews with industry leaders, profiles, and premium tools, like our CRISPR Trackr.
About the Author
Read the new fiction novel, Jihadi Red Death to see what can happen when this kind of research is allowed…
Or read THE HAN AGENT, my science thriller novel that just came out in September. A scientist loses her job for doing illegal gain-of-function research on influenza, and then is hired by a Japanese pharmaceutical company with ties to war crimes in WWII. http://www.sciencethrillersmedia.com/project/the-han-agent/
William, sadly Mr anti-regulation #45 will lift the moratorium leaving us all vulnerable to what you allude to in Red Death. Scary for us all.
Prepare for the coming of Randall Flagg and the army of the 12 monkeys 😨😨😨
Make no mistake, this is very scary stuff. My grandmother told tales of her experiences during the 1918 Flu epidemic. Imagine no infrastructure: no fuel (oil or gas); no clean water, no healthcare or access to meds like insulin or other for chronic disease, no food, etc., because those who provide this are all DEAD.
What seems today, like an ongoing lack of responsibility among the populace, and poor training practices in most jobs (can’t train well AND work simultaneously), and hiring those less competent (cheap labor) the concern about accidents is more than just a red flag, it’s terrifying.
This country, as are others, can be easily victimized by terrorist acts. Bioterrorism can occur purposly or accidentally at any time, releasing these lethal organisms into the environment.
I disagree with research that aims to genetically alter microorganisms into lethal killers. Instead, research anecdotes, and methods to ensure public safety. Just because we can resurrect the Mammoth doesn’t mean we should.
Messed up, leave the animals alone, sick jerks
Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
It’s nice to see a decision by this administration that some thought went into and isn’t obviously a bad idea. This is not to say that it is a good idea. But not being obviously a bad idea is a huge leap forward.