U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) joined nine of his Republican colleagues in reintroducing a bill that would place a moratorium on all federal research grants provided to any institution of higher education or other research institute that is conducting gain-of-function research on potential pandemic pathogens.
Gain-of-function studies, or research that improves the ability of a pathogen to cause disease, help define the fundamental nature of human-pathogen interactions. In turn, this enables an assessment of the pandemic potential of emerging infectious agents, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Research involving pandemic pathogens is crucial to ensure the nation’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from public health threats. For example, such research resulted in COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics to prevent severe disease or death, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
“However, a number of incidents and research projects — including research that enhanced the transmissibility of influenza between mammals — have raised questions about the adequacy of HHS oversight of the safety of such research,” according to a GAO study released earlier in January entitled, “HHS Could Improve Oversight of Research Involving Enhanced Potential Pandemic Pathogens.”
Based on such incidents, as well as on the GAO’s recent recommendation, numerous members of Congress think gain-of-function research is risky and should be stopped.
“Taxpayers should not have to finance research that could lead to another disastrous pandemic,” Sen. Wicker said. “It is clear there has been a failure of oversight, and it would be irresponsible to let this work move forward.”
Toward that goal, Sen. Wicker on Jan. 25 signed on as one of eight original cosponsors of the Viral Gain-of-Function Research Moratorium Act, S. 81, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS). Among the lawmakers who joined Sen. Wicker as a cosponsor were U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
“For the past few years, a select group of individuals at NIH and other federal agencies have undermined congressional oversight instead of being transparent or accountable to the American people,” said Sen. Marshall. “This has hampered our ability to get to the bottom of the COVID-19 outbreak and gain a full understanding of how much taxpayers are subsidizing these dangerous activities.”
Sen. Marshall in October 2021 first sponsored the same-named S. 3012 with 10 original cosponsors, including Sen. Wicker. However, the bill stalled in the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. The newly reintroduced S. 81 has been placed on the U.S. Senate legislative calendar for fast-track action.