Wuhan lab collaborator banned from US federal funding over dangerous gain-of-function research

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has debarred EcoHealth Alliance Inc. and its former president, Dr. Peter Daszak, from receiving federal funding for five years.

The decision follows allegations that EcoHealth failed to report dangerous gain-of-function experiments to the government, violating the terms of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant. The debarment, described as “necessary” by HHS officials, aims to protect federal interests and prevent misuse of taxpayer dollars. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer praised the move, labelling EcoHealth and Daszak as “bad actors” and accusing them of conducting risky research in China with public funds.

The decision last week builds on a May 2024 interim report from the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, which uncovered evidence of repeated violations by EcoHealth and Daszak, including late submission of required research updates.

The subcommittee highlighted nearly $100 million in federal funds received by EcoHealth since 2008 and criticised the organisation for jeopardising national security through unauthorised research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Committee Chairman Brad Wenstrup condemned Daszak’s actions, calling them “reprehensible” and urging that neither he nor his organisation receive further taxpayer support. The debarment period for EcoHealth Alliance ends in May 2029, with Daszak’s ban extending six days further.

Some of EcoHealth’s failures include:

• Failure to Report Dangerous Research: EcoHealth failed to properly disclose or report gain-of-function experiments, which involve modifying organisms to enhance their biological functions, such as transmissibility or virulence. This type of research can pose significant risks if not carefully regulated.
• Grant Violations: The organisation reportedly violated the terms of its National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants by not adhering to established guidelines and requirements. For example, it was accused of failing to submit required annual research updates, with one update delayed by nearly two years.
• Association with Risky Research: EcoHealth collaborated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, conducting gain-of-function research that some critics argue posed national security risks and raised questions about oversight and accountability.
• Mismanagement of Public Funds: The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic reported that EcoHealth received nearly $100 million in federal funding over 15 years but failed to act as a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars. The subcommittee identified repeated violations of funding terms and a lack of transparency.

EcoHealth Alliance is a US-based nonprofit organisation that focuses on global health, conservation, and pandemic prevention. Established in 1971, it specialises in understanding the connections between human health, wildlife, and ecosystems. Its work involves identifying emerging infectious diseases, studying how they spread between animals and humans, and working to prevent future pandemics.

Its core activities and focus areas include research on zoonotic diseases and global disease surveillance. The organisation collaborates with international partners to monitor wildlife and human interactions in regions prone to disease emergence, particularly in areas with high biodiversity and dense human populations.

EcoHealth had a “collaborative relationship” with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, primarily focusing on research into bat coronaviruses. That relationship has come under intense scrutiny during investigations into the origins of COVID-19, as the Wuhan Lab is located near the initial outbreak. Many US officials and independent US and world experts believe there is now indisputable evidence supporting the claim that the COVID-19 ‘pandemic’ was the result of a lab leak at Wuhan.