White House statement on funding new GOF research:
Doing diligence to assess the risks and benefits of life sciences gain-of-function research
A pause in new funding of GOF virus research is implemented. It concerns influenza, SARS and MERS viruses. The document clearly excludes work on natural influenza SARS and MERS viruses. During the time, a review and discussion process is to be initiated so that a considered opinion as to the risks and benefits of GOF virus research can be forged.
It “encourages those currently conducting this type of work – whether federally funded or not – to voluntarily pause their research while risks and benefits are being reassessed.”
In an accompanying pdf is the advice:
“In parallel, we will encourage the currently-funded USG and non-USG funded research community to join in adopting a voluntary pause on research that meets the stated definition.”
An accompanying letter from Francis Collins, Director of the NIH, echoes this:
“During this pause, NIH will not provide new funding for any projects involving these experiments and encourages those currently conducting this type of work — whether federally funded or not — to voluntarily pause their research while the government determines how to proceed.”
As US researchers have said that they will voluntarily comply with the request to halt GOF research, there is effectively a self imposed moratorium.
Two comments quickly appeared in Science and Nature and then on National Public Radio and the New York Times.
This decision to stop funding new GOF research and the US moratorium research marks a milestone in the three-year controversy. The details of the NSABB and NRC review process need to be developed, but it is clear that discussion and debate of the science are going to be key, which is what was previously lacking.
