The National Institute of Health (NIH) on Wednesday sent a letter to Representative James Comer (R-KY-01), correcting claims that the U.S. had not funded gain-of-function research in Wuhan.
The assertions, made by NIH Director Francis Collins and NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, detail that EcoHealth Alliance violated certain terms and conditions of the grant.
“EcoHealth failed to report this finding right away, as was required by the terms of the grant. EcoHealth is being notified that they have five days from today to submit to NIH any and all unpublished data from the experiments and work conducted under this award,” the letter stated.
NIH corrects untruthful assertions by NIH Director Collins and NIAID Director Fauci that NIH had not funded gain-of-function research in Wuhan.
NIH states that EcoHealth Alliance violated Terms and Conditions of NIH grant AI110964. pic.twitter.com/cFOtJlRoWl
— Richard H. Ebright (@R_H_Ebright) October 20, 2021
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), a constant critic of Dr. Fauci, responded to the letter:
“‘I told you so’ doesn’t even begin to cover it here,” he tweeted.
“I told you so” doesn’t even begin to cover it here: https://t.co/9JFn85I24i
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) October 21, 2021
The letter goes on to assert that the COVID-19 virus is not connected to the EcoHealth studies.
The controversial research has been the focus of much criticism from lawmakers. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) on Tuesday introduced the Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act, which would pause all federal research grants to universities and other organizations conducting gain-of-function research.
“It’s outrageous that a comprehensive global investigation on the origins of COVID-19 has still not been carried out, and with mounting evidence pointing towards the labs in Wuhan, additional guardrails on gain-of-function research must be established to make sure nothing like this ever happens again,” said Senator Marshall. “For the last decade, Dr. Fauci has funded gain-of-function research on SARS viruses, and until we get to the bottom of the origins of COVID-19, the federal government should not provide another dime in funding for viral gain-of-function research in the name of global health.”
“Even as Dr. Fauci denies it, there is strong evidence COVID-19 started in a lab in Wuhan,” said Paul. “However, if we have learned anything from this pandemic, it’s that risky virus enhancing research – like the type conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, also funded by the U.S. government – is an unnecessary form of science that could lead to the death of millions of people,”
– – –
Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
