The shifting sands of ‘gain-of-function’ research
The mystery of COVID’s origins has reignited a contentious debate about potentially risky studies and the fuzzy terminology that describes them.
Opinion | Manipulating viruses and risking pandemics is too dangerous. It’s time to stop.
Natural pandemics may be inevitable. Synthetic ones, constructed with full knowledge of human vulnerabilities, are not.
The grave risk of lab-created potentially pandemic pathogens
Fourteen facilities now create and research airborne-transmissible potential pandemic viruses. The risk that a virus from one of these facilities sparks a pandemic is far too high.
A science in the shadows
Key policy revisions have loosened oversight of NIH-funded "gain of function" research despite some experts' fears it could inadvertently cause a pandemic.
A New Interactive Map Reveals Where the Deadliest Germs Are Studied
In a world haunted by the specter of man-made pathogens, it’s useful to know where the Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) labs are. A team of Schar School researchers created an interactive map to identify them.
Why Scientists Tweak Lab Viruses to Make Them More Contagious
Some “gain of function” studies explore how a dangerous pathogen might cross species barriers to start an outbreak. They are not without controversy
Fifty-nine labs around world handle the deadliest pathogens – only a quarter score high...
A large proportion of scientific research on coronaviruses is carried out in countries with no oversight of experiments designed to make pathogens more deadly.