They were assessing “gain-of-function” studies. Some call this “chimeric research” because it involves the mixing of DNA from various species.
According to Marc Lipsitch, and Thomas Inglesby:
The purpose of this research funding pause is to complete “a robust and broad deliberative process … that results in the adoption of a new [U.S. Government] gain-of-function research policy.” The moratorium would stop new funding for the following:
… research projects that may be reasonably anticipated to confer attributes to influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses such that the virus would have enhanced pathogenicity and/or transmissibility in mammals via the respiratory route. The research funding pause would not apply to characterization or testing of naturally occurring influenza, MERS, and SARS viruses, unless the tests are reasonably anticipated to increase transmissibility and/or pathogenicity.
The new U.S. Government (USG) policy also encourages the currently funded U.S. Government and nongovernment research community to join in adopting a voluntary pause on research that meets this gain-of-function definition. Some 18 NIH research projects that possibly meet that definition have been identified. The moratorium does not apply to the larger infectious disease research portfolio supported by the U.S. Government. In particular, it does not affect disease surveillance or vaccine development programs.
So which is it? It looks like there’s a loophole.
Sources:
- October 16, 2014. Francis S. Collins. “Statement on Funding Pause on Certain Types of Gain-of-Function Research.” National Institutes of Health (NIH).
https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director/statements/statement-funding-pause-certain-types-gain-function-research.
National Institutes of Health. - October 17, 2014. Public Health Emergency, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “U.S. Government Gain-of-Function Deliberative Process and Research Funding Pause on Selected Gain-of-Function Research Involving Influenza, MERS, and SARS Viruses.”
https://www.phe.gov/s3/dualuse/Documents/gain-of-function.pdf.
Government, PDF. - December 12, 2014. Marc Lipsitch, and Thomas V. Inglesby. “Moratorium on Research Intended to Create Novel Potential Pandemic Pathogens.” MBio 5 (6): e02366-14.
https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.02366-14.
Research Journal.