Pausing Enhanced Pandemic Pathogen Research Act of 2023
Impact
If enacted, HB1827 would substantially alter existing public health research protocols and could lead to significant changes in funding and research priorities at the NIH. By blocking support for gain-of-function research, this legislation could limit advances in understanding certain pathogens that may be crucial for effective vaccine development and preparedness strategies. Critics of the bill argue that while it is essential to ensure safety and ethical considerations in research, broadly banning gain-of-function studies could hinder scientific progress and public health initiatives designed to prevent future pandemics.
Summary
House Bill 1827, officially known as the Pausing Enhanced Pandemic Pathogen Research Act of 2023, seeks to prohibit the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from conducting or supporting gain-of-function research for a specified period. This moratorium is set to last until March 30, 2028, and aims to prevent research that could enhance the transmissibility or virulence of pathogens that could pose a significant public health risk or threat to national security. The bill responds to rising concerns regarding the potential dangers associated with such research, particularly in light of recent global health crises.
Contention
The bill has sparked debate within the legislative community, with supporters emphasizing the need to prevent any potential biological threats arising from such research practices. Conversely, detractors are concerned this bill overreaches, imposing excessive restrictions that could stifle vital research that contributes to public health. The prohibition outlined in the bill also raises questions about the balance between ensuring safety in research and fostering innovation in biodefense and pathogen surveillance, which are critical in maintaining public health security.
Viral Gain-of-Function Research Moratorium Act This bill prohibits the award of federal research grants to institutions of higher education or research institutes that conduct gain-of-function research. Gain-of-function research refers to any research that (1) could confer attributes to influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses such that the virus would have enhanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in an organism; or (2) involves methods that could enhance potential pandemic pathogens or related risky research with potentially dangerous pathogens.