Scientists Reconsider Previous Statements, Admit Potential for Virus Experiments in China

Scientists with Ties to China and the U.S. Government Change Their Stance

Scientists who have close connections with both China and the U.S. government are now suggesting that the risky experiments they had proposed may have been carried out. This is a departure from their earlier statements. These experiments, if conducted, could have potentially led to the creation of SARS-CoV-2, according to some experts.

Testimony from Peter Daszak, President of EcoHealth Alliance

Peter Daszak, the president of EcoHealth Alliance, testified before a congressional panel, stating that to the best of his knowledge, the proposed work had not been carried out. However, he admitted that he was unsure if scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China had conducted the proposed experiments. His uncertainty led to the panel's staff director, Mitch Benzine, pointing out that without confirmation, it could not be definitively stated that the work was not done.

The Proposal: Project DEFUSE

The proposal, known as Project DEFUSE, was submitted in 2018 to the U.S. government. The project, proposed by EcoHealth and its partners, including WIV, aimed to extract viruses from bats, reverse engineer them, and add features. Some scientists outside the project believe that this work could have led to the creation of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) declined to fund the proposal due to concerns about the potential creation of a dangerous virus.

Statements from EcoHealth and Other Scientists

Following the leak of the proposal to the public in 2021, EcoHealth and Mr. Daszak stated categorically that the proposed experiments did not take place. Ralph Baric, a virologist from the University of North Carolina who was listed in the DEFUSE proposal, also stated that he was unaware if the proposed experiments were conducted.

Questions about Verification and Transparency

EcoHealth has been funneling grant money from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) to Wuhan researchers for years, including money that funded experiments that increased the virulence of a bat coronavirus. When asked about how his group verified information about those experiments, Mr. Daszak admitted that they relied on statements from the WIV. After the pandemic started, WIV researchers refused to hand over laboratory notebooks and other files to EcoHealth after the U.S. government asked for the records. This resulted in the government barring WIV from receiving U.S. grant money.

Comments on the DEFUSE Proposal

In comments on a draft of the DEFUSE proposal, Mr. Daszak mentioned that some of the work would be done at the Wuhan lab. He also told Mr. Baric in a May 27, 2021, email that Ms. Zhengli said culturing of animal viruses was being done under biosafety level two conditions, or one level below that applied in many other countries. However, Mr. Baric responded skeptically to this information.

Final Thoughts

This article brings to light the complexities and uncertainties surrounding the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and the potential role of scientific experiments in its creation. It raises important questions about transparency, verification, and the potential risks of certain types of scientific research. What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you think more transparency is needed in scientific research, especially when it involves potential risks to public health? Share this article with your friends and let's get a conversation started. Remember, you can sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.