NIH Cancels 40 “Dangerous” Studies On Pathogens

Science reports:

In response to White House concerns about allegedly risky research on viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has begun a crackdown on dozens of studies it was funding, ScienceInsider has learned. Citing Trump’s executive order promising greater oversight of “gain-of-function” (GOF) research that’s potentially dangerous, the agency has demanded the scientists leading those studies suspend part or all of their work.

“NIH has identified 40 projects that may meet the definition of dangerous gain-of-function research. Erring on the side of caution, all projects potentially meeting the definition are being suspended,” Matt Memoli, NIH’s deputy director, wrote in a 3 July draft letter.  The studies targeted by NIH include both relatively low-risk, routine work and higher risk experimentation that is essential for developing new drugs and vaccines, several researchers told ScienceInsider.

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Exclusive: In response to White House concerns about allegedly risky research on viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, the National Institutes of Health has begun a crackdown on dozens of studies it was funding. https://t.co/TQtwrGYo9B

— News from Science (@NewsfromScience) July 11, 2025