Whether or not such research constitutes 'gain of function' is purely a legal and scientific question, it has nothing inherently to do with conspiracy or theory.

Yes, the question is a factual one, but the judgment of the people involved in such a determination of fact will be weighed based on their judgment on other issues. You in fact made an authority argument for this individual originally, and my response is an attack on his authority based on his past opinions.

In your case, since you agree with many of his other opinions, you're going to find his judgment to likely be sound. Others, like me, will likely disagree with that view, because he appears to be prone to believe in too many conspiracies we don't believe to be true.