Former CDC director slams gain-of-function research: ‘Probably caused the greatest pandemic’ in history

'I think it probably caused the greatest pandemic our world has seen,' Redfield said when asked if gain-of-function research has ever halted a pandemic

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight Hearing to examine gain of function research, focusing on what the pandemic taught us and where to go from here.

Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Robert Redfield, a virologist, slammed gain-of-function research as not worth the risk during the House’s hearing on the origins of COVID-19.

Redfield appeared in a Wednesday panel in front of the House COVID origins select committee, where he blasted the controversial research method, saying he is not aware it has ever created a treatment or "life-saving vaccines."

"No, on the contrary, I think it probably caused the greatest pandemic our world has seen," Redfield told committee chairman Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, who asked if gain-of-function research has ever stopped a pandemic.

Former CDC Director Robert Redfield appeared in a Wednesday panel in front of the House COVID origins select committee where he blasted the controversial research method, saying the research method, to his knowledge, has not created a treatment or "life-saving vaccines" when asked by committee chairman Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio. (Getty Images)
Redfield also answered in the negative when Wenstrup asked if he believes there are any "tangible benefits" to gain-of-function research

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