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Trump's Order Targets Gain-of-Function Research Amid COVID Fears

8/9/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In May, President Trump took decisive action by signing an executive order to limit gain-of-function research, driven by safety fears tied to the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the COVID-19 outbreak. New NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya is pushing for tougher regulations, while investigations into EcoHealth Alliance reveal a pressing need for better risk assessments and transparency in virology.

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Story summary

In May, President Trump took decisive action by signing an executive order to limit gain-of-function research, driven by safety fears tied to the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the COVID-19 outbreak. New NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya is pushing for tougher regulations, while investigations into EcoHealth Alliance reveal a pressing need for better risk assessments and transparency in virology.