Original sentence: It then argues that alternative approaches that do not involve such risks should be used instead.On July 14, 2014, the group published a Consensus Statement authored by 18 founding members, including Amir Attaran, Barry Bloom, Arturo Casadevall, Richard H.Since its initial publication, over 300 scientists, academics, and physicians have added their signature.The statement advocates for all work involving potential pandemic pathogens to be halted until a quantitative and objective assessment of the risks has been undertaken
Edited sentence: In December 2017, the three-year moratorium expired.On July 14, 2014, the group published a Consensus Statement with 18 original signatories and founding members, including Amir Attaran, Barry Bloom, Arturo Casadevall, Richard H.The group advocates for devising alternative research methods that would meet the same research objectives.The group is not concerned so much with "gain of function" studies in general, but with applying the tool to creating variants with increased transmissibility and virulence among mammals that could also affect humans in the case of a deliberate or accidental lab release.Within the first two months of publishing the Consensus Statement, 50 more Charter Members signed, and has since been signed by over 200 scientists