Biological research is dual use which can be used for good (trying to control the harm of something like COVID) and/or biological warfare. Such things are controlled under EAR/ITAR. In this case, ECCN 1C351 & 1C352. I worked with such things (not biological) for years and when working with the Chinese I was under strict guidelines on what technical things I could share. The reason: it is a given that if they could put it to military use, they would. That is one of the reasons Congress banned it. Unfortunately, along can Anthony Fauci https://tinyurl.com/2rkj8w7k That was called a conspiracy theory, until it wasn't.

Fauci has not been prosecuted and there is the downside you mentioned. During the hysteria my Thai wife expressed concern that "someone might knock my head."