NIH Deleted Info From Wuhan Lab on CCP Virus Genetic Sequencing, Watchdog’s FOIA Finds

Recent documents obtained by a watchdog group reveal that the National Institutes of Health deleted genetic sequencing data from the Wuhan Institute of Virology at the request of a Chinese researcher. Although NIH initially refused to delete the data in favor of editing or replacing it, officials ultimately suppressed public access to the sequences shortly after their submission. This decision occurred despite internal communications suggesting the data might indicate the virus originated outside the initial market outbreaks, potentially supporting the hypothesis of a lab leak. The relevance to open data lies in the significant erosion of scientific transparency and the prioritization of institutional convenience over public access. By allowing the suppression of critical genomic information during the early stages of a global pandemic, the incident highlights how easily vital health data can be removed from public scrutiny. This lack of transparency hinders independent verification by the global scientific community and raises serious concerns about the integrity of international research collaborations and data sharing protocols. These revelations have intensified congressional efforts to investigate the origins of the virus and the NIH’s role in funding research at the Wuhan lab. Lawmakers argue that withholding data undermines national security and public trust, leading to legislative proposals for a comprehensive task force to examine pandemic origins and foreign research partnerships. Ultimately, this event underscores the necessity for robust protections of open data to ensure accountability, facilitate accurate scientific analysis, and prevent the suppression of information that could explain the emergence of future health crises.

Source: theepochtimes.com
Published on 2024-01-12

Más de 60 mil venezolanos solicitaron asilo en España en 2023 »

Open Data

Related news