FOI documents on origins of Covid-19, gain-of-function research and biolabs

For more information about our investigation, see our reporting on the origins of COVID-19, gain-of-function research and other high-risk virology research.  Here are the documents we have obtained on these subjects so far from Freedom of Information requests. The documents are posted below in approximately the chronological order in which we received them. In July ... FOI documents on origins of Covid-19, gain-of-function research and biolabs

‘Forever chemicals’ (PFAS) may weaken immune function in children, leading to more frequent infections 

Drinking water contaminated by human-made “forever chemicals” appears to impair children's immunity, potentially increasing the risk of common childhood infections, new research shows.

Science editor says his journal’s ‘wet market’ papers are not conclusive

The editor-in-chief of a major scientific journal distanced himself from prominent claims that two studies in his journal had dispositively proved the pandemic emerged naturally, in a hearing Tuesday.

American scientists misled Pentagon on research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology

American researchers concealed their intention to conduct high-risk coronavirus research in Wuhan under lax safety standards from the Pentagon the year before COVID-19 pandemic, according to documents obtained by U.S. Right to Know. 

Science Media Centre promotes corporate views of science

The Science Media Centre (SMC) is a nonprofit public relations agency partially funded by corporations and industry groups whose products the group often defends. Current and past funders include BASF, Bayer, DuPont, Monsanto, Coca-Cola, Nestle, and food, chemical and nuclear industry trade organizations, as well as media groups, government agencies, foundations and universities. The SMC ... Science Media Centre promotes corporate views of science

5 questions Gates Foundation should answer about its agriculture projects in Africa

As the Goalkeepers convened to discuss progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, did they ignore the global chorus of criticisms about the foundation’s agricultural development work in Africa?

Mark Lynas’ inaccurate, deceptive promotions for GMOs and pesticides

Mark Lynas is a former journalist turned public relations advocate for genetically engineered foods and pesticides. He makes inaccurate claims about those products from his perch at the Gates Foundation-funded Cornell Alliance for Science (which has dropped “Cornell” from its name). The Alliance for Science is a PR campaign that trains spokespeople and creates networks ... Mark Lynas’ inaccurate, deceptive promotions for GMOs and pesticides

Gates-funded ‘Alliance for Science’ accused of peddling misinformation

The Alliance for Science is a public relations campaign that trains spokespeople and creates networks of influence, particularly in African countries, to persuade the public and policymakers to accept GMOs and pesticides. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched the effort in 2014 with a $5.6 million grant and has since donated $22 million to ... Gates-funded ‘Alliance for Science’ accused of peddling misinformation

Report shows U.S. intelligence on the Wuhan Institute of Virology is thin

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence declassified intelligence related to the origins of the worst pandemic in a century Friday evening.

U.S. funded discovery of close COVID-19 relative at the center of origins controversy

U.S. funded the discovery of RaTG13, the closest relative of Covid-19 known before the pandemic began.

Could our nation’s newest virus-hunting program cause the next pandemic?

The entire chain of virus hunting work entails risks that can lead to accidental infection, from handling animals to experiments in the lab.

How Fauci, scientists with ties to Wuhan lab persuaded the intelligence community COVID had a natural origin

Scientists with connections to the Wuhan Institute of Virology — including Anthony Fauci — steered the U.S. national security state away from hypotheses about the origins of COVID-19 that could implicate their research, emails obtained through FOIA show.

U.S. health officials discouraged letter seeking Wuhan labs visit

U.S. health officials opposed a diplomatic letter requesting international scientists tour Wuhan’s coronavirus labs in the spring of 2020, emails show.

NIH gain-of-function regulations are vague and secretive, advisers say

NIH's biosecurity advisers and the Government Accountability Office both recommended better regulation of lab-generated pandemic viruses.

Emails show Wuhan lab collaborator played central role in public messaging about COVID-19 origins

EcoHealth Alliance president Peter Daszak used scientific and professional connections to convince media and government officials of natural Covid-19 origins.

Critic of congressional probe into gain-of-function research helped fund Wuhan gain-of-function study

A prominent scientist who has denounced a congressional investigation into gain-of-function research helped fund Wuhan Institute of Virology gain-of-function work flagged by congressional investigators. Peter Hotez, dean of the Baylor College of Medicine National School of Tropical Medicine, has been a fierce critic of potential hearings next year into a possible lab origin of COVID-19 ... Critic of congressional probe into gain-of-function research helped fund Wuhan gain-of-function study

Virologists push back on more regulation of viruses made more lethal in the lab

Virologists pushed back on the possibility of tighter regulation of viruses tweaked in the lab to be more lethal at a public meeting Wednesday. An enhanced pandemic potential pathogen is a virus or microbe that has gained increased transmissibility — capacity to spread from person to person and reverberate throughout a population — or virulence ... Virologists push back on more regulation of viruses made more lethal in the lab

Celebrated virus hunter siphoned taxpayer funds for his private ‘Global Virome Project’

A former U.S. Agency for International Development official founded and worked for a controversial organization benefiting from USAID funds while he continued to receive six-figure paychecks from his USAID job, potentially running afoul of ethics laws, according to documents obtained by U.S. Right to Know. Emerging Pandemic Threats Division Director Dennis Carroll went on to ... Celebrated virus hunter siphoned taxpayer funds for his private ‘Global Virome Project’

Military lab changed mission statement after report questioned value of its work

The Army’s premier biolab changed its mission statement after a 2014 report by high-ranking officials concluded its work has become less useful since its Cold War heyday and no longer delivers medical products for service members. The report, which had not been previously released, was obtained through a state public records request by U.S. Right ... Military lab changed mission statement after report questioned value of its work

Biosafety expert close to Wuhan Institute of Virology urged associates there to address his tough questions about lab origin of SARS-CoV-2

In early 2020, as the world was reeling from the fast spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, a leading biosafety expert with close ties to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) encouraged scientists there to launch an “investigation” into whether the new disease could have come from the institute, including answering many of his specific questions ... Biosafety expert close to Wuhan Institute of Virology urged associates there to address his tough questions about lab origin of SARS-CoV-2

Bill Gates’ radical food agenda: Ultra-processed foods, patents and pesticide monocrops

To the techno-food industrialists, hunger and climate disruption are problems to be solved with data and engineering. The core ingredients of their revolutionary plan: genetic engineering — and patenting — of everything from seeds and food animals, to soil microbes, flavors and textures. Local food cultures and traditional diets could fade to the past as food production moves indoors to labs that cultivate fake meat and ultra-processed foods.

Why we are researching the origins of Covid-19, gain-of-function research and biolabs

See our  reporting on the origins of Covid-19  for updates on our investigation, and we are posting documents from our investigation here. Sign up here to receive weekly updates.  In July 2020, U.S. Right to Know began submitting public records requests in pursuit of data from public institutions in an effort to discover what is ... Why we are researching the origins of Covid-19, gain-of-function research and biolabs

Bill Gates’ plans to remake food systems will harm the climate

By Stacy Malkan In his book on how to avoid a climate disaster, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates discusses his plans to model African food systems upon India’s “green revolution,” in which a plant scientist increased crop yields and saved a billion lives, according to Gates. The obstacle to implementing a similar overhaul in Africa, he ... Bill Gates’ plans to remake food systems will harm the climate

Colorado State University documents on bat pathogen research

This post describes documents of Colorado State University (CSU) Professors Rebekah Kading and Tony Schountz, which U.S. Right to Know obtained from a public records request. Kading and Schountz are virologists who study bat-associated pathogens in hot-spots across the world. They collaborate with EcoHealth Alliance, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Defense Advanced ... Colorado State University documents on bat pathogen research

Groups to CDC: Stop Falsely Claiming Not to Accept Corporate Money

News Release For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 5, 2019 Contact: Gary Ruskin, U.S. Right to Know, gary@usrighttoknow.wpenginepowered.com, (415) 944-7350 Angela Bradbery, Public Citizen, abradbery@citizen.org, (202) 588-7741 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Public health, government watchdog and public interest groups today petitioned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to cease making false disclaimers that it “does not accept ... Groups to CDC: Stop Falsely Claiming Not to Accept Corporate Money

USA Today Fail: Trump Science Column by Corporate Front Group

By Stacy Malkan USA Today fell to a new low in science and election coverage this week with a column speculating about presidential candidate Donald Trump’s science agenda, written by two members of a corporate front group that was not identified as a corporate front group. The column, “Would President Trump Be a Science Guy?”, ... USA Today Fail: Trump Science Column by Corporate Front Group