A local state senator has sent a letter to President Donald Trump.
Senator Andre Jacque of De Pere, along with Oconto Assemblyman Elijah Behnke, are asking the president to eliminate federal funding for Gain-of-Function research on potential pandemic pathogens.
Gain-of-Function research involves genetically manipulating pathogens to enhance their transmissibility or virulence in humans.
In the letter, the duo state, “The creation of more infectious or deadly pathogens presents an unacceptable risk of accidental release, which could lead to devastating global pandemics, such as what the FBI, CIA and Energy Department all believe occurred with COVID-19 at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.”
They pointed to numerous research studies which highlighted the inherent dangers of GoF research.
The duo is asking President Trump to issue an executive order eliminating the funding for GoF research, implement federal policies to prohibit the conduct of Gain-of-Function research on potential pandemic pathogens, and enhance transparency and oversight in biological research to ensure all laboratories.
The letter is also being sent to Secretary-designee of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the Director-designee of the National Institutes of Health, and to members of the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation.
