https://drasticresearch.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/defuse-project-rejection-by-darpa.pdf
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The DEFUSE proposed project by EHA was rejected by DARPA, although “if funding became
available”, certain components of particular interest could have gone ahead, subject to a clear
contractual Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) risk mitigation plan that ‘includes a
responsible communications plan’.
REASONS FOR REJECTION
The Biological Technologies Office of DARPA reviewed the EcoHealth Alliance DEFUSE
proposal and the Evaluation Reports and decided it was “selectable”. In doing so, two out of
three reviewers considered the aim of preempting “zoonotic spillover through reduction of viral
shedding in the bat caves” as of interest to DARPA. These reviewers assessed the EHA and
Collaborators team and concluded that:
- They have plenty of prior experience.
- They have access to Yunnan caves where bats are infected with SARSr viruses.
- They have carried out past surveillance work
- They have developed geo-based risk maps of zoonotic hotspots
- Their proposed experimental work is logical and can validate molecular and evolutionary