Fauci Pushes Back After New Documents on US-Funded Virus Research in China Fuel Criticism

Top American health officials who critics say misled Congress with claims regarding U.S.-funded virus research in China are pushing back after documents were released appearing to show that the United States did pay for gain-of-function research, contrary to the officials' testimony.

Fauci acknowledged using a narrower term established under a framework issued in late 2017 after the agency lifted a funding pause on most gain-of-function research.

That term is called "Gain-of-function research of concern" and entails "a small subset" of gain-of-function research projects that "Entail risks that are potentially significant enough to warrant additional oversight," according to the NIH. "Under those conditions which we have explained very, very clearly, does not constitute research of gain-of-function of concern," Fauci said.

"The NIH and NIAID categorically has not funded gain-of-function research to be conducted in the Wuhan Institute of Virology," he said at the time.

Gain-of-function research "Describes a type of research that modifies a biological agent so that it confers new or enhanced activity to that agent," the NIH said on its website, before removing the description last week.

The newly disclosed documents from the EcoHealth Alliance, which funneled NIH grant money to the institute, outline research conducted between June 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019.

Collins, who is stepping down before the end of the year, has also pushed back against critics, telling The Washington Post that the research did not meet the definition of gain-of-function.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/fauci-pushes-back-after-new-documents-on-us-funded-virus-research-in-china-fuel-criticism_4066977.html