National Security spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the Biden administration still supports gain of function research as a tool that could be used to prevent future pandemics.
Reporter Philip Wegmann of Real Clear Politics asked Kirby if the president still believes in the potential benefits of gain of function research, wherein scientists extract viruses from animals to make them more transmissible and deadly in humans.
“Does the president believe that this type of gain of function research is prudent?” Wegmann asked.
“There has to be legitimate scientific research into the sources or the potential sources of pandemics so that we understand it, so that we can prevent them from happening,” Kirby said. “But he also believes … that the research has to be done in a safe and secure manner and as transparently as possible to the rest of the world, so the people know what’s going on.”
The National Security Council's John Kirby said the Biden administration has reached “no consensus” on how COVID-19 started. https://t.co/DfjvtZjBy7 pic.twitter.com/PNuodcu0W2
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 28, 2023
Gain of function research is notable for the potential dangers it could pose to humans. Gain of function research was notably funded in Wuhan, China, where it appears more and more likely that the Covid-19 virus originated. Senator Rand Paul has brought up the dangers of gain of function to Dr. Anthony Fauci in May of 2021, when he said: “Knowing that it is a crime to lie to Congress, do you wish to retract your statement of May 11 where you claim that the NIH never funded gain of function research in Wuhan?”
Rand Paul rips fauci a new asshole. pic.twitter.com/A88Zc4wnEG
— Mr Steven (@evets7) February 12, 2023
“Senator Paul,” Fauci said, “I have never lied before Congress and I do not retract that statement. This paper that you are referring to was judged by qualified staff up and down the chain as not being gain of function.”
“You take an animal virus, and you increase its transmissibility to humans, you’re saying that’s not gain of function?” Paul asked.
John Kirby’s answer to the question of whether Biden thinks conducting Gain of Function research is prudent: “I think that's a fancy way of saying yes”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 27, 2023
“That is correct,” Fauci said.
