The Verdict [Misleading]
The goal of the study was to identify H5N1 virus mutations to predict their pandemic potential and develop early countermeasures.
The context
An old claim regarding Bill Gates’ involvement in bird flu research has resurfaced online.
Some Facebook users have shared a post stating that “The BiII Gates Foundation awarded the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW Madison) a $9.5 million grant to conduct research on making the H5N1 virus transmissible to humans and other mammals”.
The claim is accompanied by a screenshot of an article from Newswize (archived here), a publication that describes itself as catering to “patriots who… support an America-First agenda.”
One of these social media posts received more than 30,000 shares (archived here).
However, the Gates Foundation funded the research to assess the potential threats posed by the H5N1 virus to humans and to develop countermeasures in case of natural mutations — not to make it transmissible to humans.
What we found
According to a 2009 press release by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated $9.5 million to the university to identify virus mutations that would serve as early warnings of potential pandemic influenza viruses.
The research, led by virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka at UW–Madison, aimed to identify mutations that help avian influenza viruses bind to human receptors or replicate efficiently in human cells. By detecting these mutations early, the team hoped to predict pandemic potential. This type of research is known as gain-of-function research.
Logically Facts contacted Will Cushman, a science writer at UW–Madison’s Office of Strategic Communication, for insight into the 2009 study.
He stated that the research was not intended to make H5N1 avian influenza transmissible to humans but rather to prepare scientists for avian influenza viruses that could become pandemic. This would help develop early therapeutics, vaccines, and other public health interventions.
“Additionally, the research performed with the funding aligned with recommendations by the NIH in 2006 and the WHO in 2009 aimed at pandemic preparedness,” he explained.
According to Cushman, The Gates Foundation required the research to comply with federal regulations, including approvals for human subjects, animals, biohazards, and recombinant DNA, with the Kawaoka lab securing ethical clearances before work began.
In a February 27 email to Logically Facts, the Gates Foundation stated that claims of it funding research to make bird flu transmissible to humans are false.
There is also no evidence that Bill Gates was personally involved in the research. Cushman noted, “As far as Bill Gates, he was not personally involved other than this was his foundation.”
According to a study by Michael J. Selgelid, a leading bioethicist and director of the Centre for Human Bioethics at Monash University, gain-of-function research can help scientists understand disease-causing pathogens, their human interactions, and pandemic risks if conducted responsibly.
Dr. Matthew Koci, a professor of immunology, virology, and host-pathogen interactions at North Carolina State University, told Logically Facts that institutions must notify federal regulators when a scientist proposes gain-of-function research.
“This triggers an external review to assess the proposed safeguards and confirm that proper controls are in place,” he explained. “Additionally, all researchers involved undergo security background checks before they are allowed to work in the lab.”
Despite safeguards surrounding the research process, there have been concerns about the safety of gain-of-function studies.
In 2014, the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) issued a moratorium on such studies involving influenza, SARS, and MERS viruses. While the NIH maintained that gain-of-function research “helps define the fundamental nature of human-pathogen interactions,” concern over the biosecurity risks was expressed. In 2017, the NIH lifted the moratorium on these types of studies.
Dr. Koci acknowledged that “this type of research does come with risks — that’s a fact.” However, he maintained that “many infectious disease experts, including myself, believe the benefits outweigh the risks.”
While bird flu viruses usually do not infect humans, rare cases have occurred, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The World Health Organization reports that between 2003 and 2024, 954 cases of human infection with the avian influenza A(H5N1) virus were documented across 24 countries, with a fatality rate of 49 percent.
Different iterations of this claim have roamed the internet since at least 2022. Logically Facts previously debunked a claim that Dr. Fauci and Bill Gates funded research to develop a bird flu pathogen capable of infecting humans. More recently, other fact-checking organizations like PolitiFact and AFP Fact Check have also checked this claim.
The verdict
The claim that the Gates Foundation funded research to make bird flu transmissible to humans is misleading. During gain-of-function research, virus mutations are studied to identify their potential risks to humans and develop early medical countermeasures. The goal of gain-of-function research is to help prevent pandemics.
(Update: Paragraph 4 of this fact-check was updated on March 7, 2025, to provide the correct number of shares for the social media post cited.)
This article is written by Anna Aleksandra Sichova and republished from Logically Facts. Read the original article here.
Reference Links
“UW-Madison receives $9.5 million Gates Foundation grant” – UW-Madison – Refutes
“Yoshihiro Kawaoka” – UW-Madison – Neutral
“Gain-of-Function Research: Ethical Analysis” – Michael J. Selgelid – Neutral
“Matthew Koci” – North Carolina State University – Neutral
“Statement on Funding Pause on Certain Types of Gain-of-Function Research” – U.S. National Institute of Health – Neutral
“NIH Lifts Funding Pause on Gain-of-Function Research” – U.S. National Institute of Health – Neutral
“What Causes Bird Flu Virus Infections in Humans” – U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Neutral
“Avian Influenza Weekly Update Number 983” – World Health Organization – Neutral
“The Gates Foundation “awarded $9.5 million to UW-Madison to make H5N1 bird flu transmissible to humans” – PolitiFact – Neutral
“Bird flu claims targeting Bill Gates feed conspiracy theories” – AFP Fact Check – Neutral
Also read | No, Bill Gates did not visit Kashi Vishwanath temple during 2025 ‘Mahakumbh’
I watched the film about bird flu on the McCullough Foundations website. What they said, at about 8 minutes in, was that Gates donated 9.5 million for research “to modify H5N1 virus to preferentially recognize human type receptors and transmit efficiently in mammals”. I can see where some people are confused.
I’m seeing an article about Dutch scientists using gain-of-function to see how people could catch bird flu and Bill Gates is behind it. If we haven’t gotten it, maybe we won’t get it unless some jerks make it so.
While slander is bad, some, like the Gates, who have been into funding socially-accepted eugenics, are understandably asking for the suspicion of wrongdoing.