^TagDr. Shi Zheng-Li

Young man wearing coverall and safety mask working on production line of modern pharmaceutical factory, portrait shot

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post

Author
Heather Zeiger
Date
June 14, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Science

Tagged
Anthony Fauci, COVID-19, COVID-19 lab leak hypothesis, Dr. Shi Zheng-Li, EcoHealth Alliance, gain-of-function study, Katherine Eban, National Institute of Health (NIH), Nicholas Wade, Peter Daszak, Potential Pandemic Pathogens Control and Oversight Framework (P3CO), SARS-CoV-2, Wuhan Institute of Virology}

U.S. Moratorium(ish) on Gain-of-Function Research

_{Evaluating the effectiveness of the 2014 U.S. moratorium on gain-of-function experiments} _{Heather Zeiger

June 14, 2021

5

Medicine and Health, Science}

In the last two articles, we discussed the vindication of the lab leak theory through the publication of several investigative articles, and the risky nature of gain-of-function research and the evidence that it may be a key component to the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, we turn to the U.S. Due to the risky nature of gain-of-function research, what actions has the U.S. government taken to mitigate those risks? In 2014, the U.S. government placed a moratorium on new gain-of-function experiments for influenza, MERS, and SARS. That moratorium defines “gain-of-function” in very broad terms covering any “research that improves the ability of a pathogen to cause disease.” The moratorium expired in 2017 and was replaced by an oversight board, Read More ›

Medical science laboratory. Concept of virus and bacteria research

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post

Author
Heather Zeiger
Date
June 11, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Science

Tagged
COVID-19, COVID-19 lab leak hypothesis, Dr. Shi Zheng-Li, gain-of-function study, National Institute of Health (NIH), SARS-CoV-2, Wuhan Institute of Virology}

What Is Gain-of-Function Research and Why Is It Risky?

_{The Wuhan Institute of Virology and the NIH find themselves in a tough spot} _{Heather Zeiger

June 11, 2021

7

Medicine and Health, Science}

Last time, we talked about the vindication of the lab leak theory, as a growing number of investigative articles have pointed to a lab accident as the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now,we turn to the role risky gain-of-function research may have played in the affair. To understand why some in the U.S. government and the NIH want to downplay funding of gain-of-function research, we need to understand what exactly it is. All viruses mutate, some faster than others. Influenza is one of the fastest mutating viruses, followed by HIV. SARS-CoV-2 mutates slower than both viruses, which is why many scientists believe vaccine booster shots will likely be every few years, rather than annually, like the flu. Scientists need to Read More ›

Science laboratory research and development concept. microscope with test tubes

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post

Author
Heather Zeiger
Date
June 10, 2021

Categorized
Media, Medicine and Health, Science

Tagged
Anthony Fauci, Chinese Communist Party (CCP), COVID-19, COVID-19 lab leak hypothesis, Dr. Shi Zheng-Li, EcoHealth Alliance, Katherine Eban, National Institute of Health (NIH), Nicholas Wade, Nicholson Baker, Peter Daszak, SARS-CoV-2, Vanity Fair, WHO COVID-19 investigation in China, World Health Organization (WHO), Wuhan Institute of Virology}

Lab Leak Theory Vindicated: What That Means for Fighting COVID-19

_{What was the U.S. government's role in downplaying the lab leak theory?} _{Heather Zeiger

June 10, 2021

5

Media, Medicine and Health, Science}

Vanity Fair adds to the growing number of investigative articles pointing to a lab accident as the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article looks at the U.S. government’s role in downplaying that lab leak theory. Behind closed doors, however, national security and public health experts and officials across a range of departments in the executive branch were locked in high-stakes battles over what could and couldn’t be investigated and made public. Katherine Eban, “The Lab-Leak Theory: Inside the Fight to Uncover COVID-19’s Origins” at Vanity Fair At a time when the Mainstream Media has sullied its reputation by parroting experts rather than seeking multiple viewpoints and checking sources, several articles stand out as excellent pieces of long-form writing and Read More ›