Fauci In 2012: Gain-Of-Function Research Is Worth Pandemic Risk

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci defended "Gain-of-function" research in 2012 - wherein scientists extract viruses from the wild and engineer them to infect humans in order to study potential therapeutics including vaccines - as research worth risking a pandemic over.

The revelation of Fauci's 2012 defense of the research comes as new reports emerge, breathing new life into the lab-leak theory among the political establishment that dismissed the origin hypothesis, which was always credible, as a conspiracy theory.

According to longtime journalist and former New York Times science writer Nicholas Wade Fauci circumvented the U.S. moratorium and supported gain-of-function with grant money from the NIAID funneled through EcoHealth Alliance, operated by Dr. Peter Daszak.

In later testimony before House lawmakers, Fauci admitted that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was a recipient of a $600,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study bat coronaviruses that could infect humans.

Fauci has continued to vehemently deny the money went toward gain-of-function research.

Fauci's denial is "Surprising," Wade wrote, given the evidence of experiments "With enhancing coronaviruses and the language of the moratorium statute defining gain of function as 'any research that improves the ability of a pathogen to cause disease.'" Fauci's denial, Wade explained, is likely a technical one based on the definition of "Gain of function."

Fauci's potential role in funding the birth of the pandemic while disputing the claims to Congress has led several lawmakers to demand the NIAID director's resignation.

https://thefederalist.com/2021/05/28/fauci-in-2012-gain-of-function-research-into-bat-viruses-is-worth-the-risk-of-a-pandemic/