COVID-19 BRIEFING: What is 'gain of function' research? 

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The debate about the origins of COVID-19 has led to some people calling for a ban on so-called 'gain of function' research. 'Gain of function' research can make a virus more infectious or more deadly, but this isn't the full picture. So, what exactly is 'gain of function' research? How and where is it used? And how can we decide which research to allow and which research is too risky?  Join this AusSMC background briefing to hear about this issue from the experts.

Organisation/s: The Australian National University, The University of Melbourne

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Media release

From: Australian Science Media Centre

The debate about the origins of COVID-19 has led to some people calling for a ban on so-called 'gain of function' research. 'Gain of function' research can make a virus more infectious or more deadly, but this isn't the full picture. So, what exactly is 'gain of function' research? How and where is it used? And how can we decide which research to allow and which research is too risky?

Join this AusSMC background briefing to hear about this issue from the experts

Speakers:

  • Professor Michael Selgelid is a bioethicist at McMaster University in Canada and former director of the Centre for Human Bioethics at Monash University
  • Dr Gaetan Burgio is a geneticist at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, at the Australian National University
  • Professor Ian Barr is Deputy Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza

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    Australian Science Media Centre
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    Australian Science Media Centre
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