Judicial Watch Uncovers Dozens of Records of Illegal Molecular Research Reported to NIH
June 3, 2022

(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch announced today that it received 2369 pages of records (see links at the bottom for docs) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) revealing over two dozen cases whereresearch involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid (r/sNA) moleculeswas conducted in America without proper approval and in violation of NIH guidelines.

Recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid (r/sNA) molecules are constructed outside of living cells. The molecules are made by joining DNA or RNA segments (natural or synthetic) to DNA or RNA molecules that can replicate within a living cell. They may also result from replication of previously constructed recombinant molecules.

NIH guidelines detail safety practices and containment procedures for basic and clinical research involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules – including the creation and use of organisms and viruses containing recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules. These guidelines require that any significant problems, violations, or any significant research-related accidents and illnesses be reported to NIH within 30 days.

The documents further showed that the research, which occurred atBiosafety Level 1/2/3 laboratories, led to dozens of dangerous mishaps, accidents, and spills.

Judicial Watch obtained the records in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to NIH asking for:
Any and all records maintained by the National Institutes of Health including memoranda, draft memoranda, reports, email communications, email chains, data compilation, and other communications regarding or documenting accidents, incidents, illnesses and hazards identified concerning (i) recombinant nucleic acid molecules, (ii) synthetic nucleic acid molecules, including those that are chemically or otherwise modified but can base pair with naturally occurring nucleic acid molecules, and (iii) cells, organisms, and viruses containing such molecules research which was conducted at Biosafety Level (BSL) 2, BSL 3 or BSL 4 laboratories, including government owned facilities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, private laboratories, university laboratories, international laboratories and State public health laboratories.

Nearly 100 r/sNA incidentswere reported to the NIH through their email system, the following are incidents that were reported with the subject line, “NIH Guidelines.”

In an email on February 12, 2020, Biosafety Officer for the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Dr. Matt Anderson reports an incident that began in March 2018 whereinDr. Shi-Hua Xiang created an HIV pseudo viruscontaining Marburg glycoprotein M78 in a university Biosafety Level 2 laboratory, for which he did not have authorization.