The U.S. government has been funding over 120 biolabs in more than 30 countries, according to outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Many of these biolabs include pathogens that cause infectious diseases, such as brucellosis and anthrax bacteria.
Gain-of-Function Research
Some of these biolabs have engaged in gain-of-function research, a scientific methodology that genetically alters an organism to enhance a biological function. This type of research is widely used to develop vaccines but comes with biosecurity risks. An executive order signed by President Trump in May halted federal funding for “dangerous gain-of-function” research and mandated a suspension of any active National Institutes of Health-funded projects that meet the definition.
The new evidence includes million-dollar labs in Ukraine that may be at risk of “compromise” due to the Russia-Ukraine war. The intelligence community previously warned that a U.S.-funded biolab in Ukraine likely housed pathogens that cause infectious diseases and remained “vulnerable” to longstanding threats of Russian attack, seizure, or damage.
U.S. Colleges Involved
Several U.S. colleges are involved in the Ukrainian scientific collaborator network, including the University of Florida, University of Alaska, University of Tennessee, University of New Mexico, and Kansas State University. The U.S. also paid Ukrainian scientists to study pathogenic avian flu and other infectious viruses in biocontainment labs.
Ms. Gabbard stated that “despite the obvious potential for catastrophic global impact research on dangerous pathogens in biolabs … politicians, so-called health professionals, and entities within the Biden administration’s national security team lied to the American people about the existence of U.S.-funded and supported biolabs, and threatened those who attempted to expose the truth.”
ODNI will continue to work closely with partners across the government to identify where these labs are, what pathogens they contain, and to end dangerous gain-of-function research that threatens the health and well-being of the American people and people around the world.
Original reporting: WMAL (Washington DC) — read the source article.
