Plan to Build NIH-Funded Bat Research Lab in Colorado Sparks Fears of Lab Leak
Colorado State University officials deny the controversial bat disease research lab will conduct gain-of-function experiments, but locals opposed to the facility cite evidence the university is already conducting risky research on deadly pathogens.
Colorado State University (CSU) is proceeding with controversial plans to construct a new research facility to study bat diseases with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Construction is slated to be completed sometime in 2024 or 2025.
University officials and proponents of the new facility argue the laboratory is necessary to enhance research capabilities looking into emerging diseases and viruses resulting from zoonotic — animal-to-human — transfer.
While CSU denies that gain-of-function research will occur at the laboratory, some researchers connected with the new facility previously were associated with actors involved with such research, including experiments conducted in Wuhan, China.
Francis Boyle, J.D., Ph.D., a bioweapons expert and professor of international law at the University of Illinois, is concerned about the facility.
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Source: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/nih-funded-bat-research-lab-leak-colorado/?utm_source=luminate&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=defender&utm_id=20230518
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