Millions of US taxpayer dollars are being allocated to unethical research practices in China, funding cruel and dangerous experiments on animals. It is concerning that over $15 million in government grants have been used to support animal experiments in foreign labs, including those in China, despite suspicions that questionable Chinese research may have played a role in the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of this US-funded research involves collecting avian flu viruses from Chinese wet markets and infecting various animals, such as chickens, ducks, and guinea pigs, to enhance the transmissibility of these viruses. One of the key issues is that research in China does not adhere to the same rigorous ethical and safety protocols as in the US, although it is not technically illegal. Previous watchdog investigations have revealed that grant money sent to Chinese labs often lacks oversight, allowing for potential misuse.
Between the years 2015 and 2023, at least seven US entities provided NIH grant money to Chinese labs conducting animal experiments, totaling $3,306,061. These labs, which engage in animal experimentation, are eligible to receive funding from the National Institutes of Health. In the fiscal years 2021 to 2023, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded 15 grants, amounting to $3.6 million, to Chinese institutions conducting animal experiments. Additionally, during that same period, the NIH provided at least 92 sub-awards worth $12.5 million to Chinese institutions. These sub-awards allow organizations to carry out specific activities under the supervision of the NIH. However, in some cases, the NIH granted funds to educational institutes, which then distributed the money to Chinese entities conducting animal experiments without proper oversight. The federal spending data from 2020 shows that the NIH spent approximately $140 million on animal experiments in 29 foreign countries.
The White Coat Waste Project, a watchdog group dedicated to ending the use of taxpayer funds for animal testing, has been actively advocating for the cessation of sending American tax dollars overseas to support animal experiments, including virus and drug testing. They were the first to uncover the NIH’s allocation of millions of dollars for unmonitored and dangerous animal experiments in China and Russia. The organization has collaborated with Representative Lisa McClain, a Republican from Michigan, to introduce the Accountability in Foreign Animals Research (AFAR) Act. This bipartisan act aims to prevent the NIH from conducting or supporting animal research in foreign countries. Vertebrate animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, would be protected under this legislation. The goal is to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not sent to state-run labs in adversary nations, such as Russia and China, which pose threats to national security.
The WCW Project revealed that, between 2015 and 2023, seven US entities provided over $3.3 million in grant money to Chinese labs conducting animal experiments. For instance, Emory University granted $515,418 from a Health and Human Services contract to Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, which houses a high-containment bioagent lab in China. These experiments involved collecting avian flu viruses from Chinese wet markets and injecting them into various animals, including guinea pigs, mice, chickens, and ducks. The animals were subsequently killed and dissected. The WCW Project also exposed the University of Illinois for providing funding to the Kremlin-linked Institute of Cytology and Genetics to study silver fox behavior on a fur farm. The animals were housed in small and unkempt cages before being killed and dissected. These experiments would likely be deemed illegal in the US due to the guidelines governing animal use, which mandate appropriate veterinary care, minimal harm through anesthetics, and humane euthanasia methods.
It is worth noting that thanks to the efforts of the WCW Project, the Biden administration successfully halted all funding for animal labs in Russia earlier this year. However, animal experiments using American taxpayer money continue in China. The Wuhan Institute of Virology, led by Shi Zhengli, known as the ‘Bat Lady’ or ‘Bat Woman’ for her research on bat coronaviruses, has been involved in extensive studies on bats. Researchers collected avian flu viruses from Chinese wet markets and infected animals like guinea pigs, mice, chickens, and ducks between 2015 and 2018. Concerns about the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic have not deterred the continuation of these experiments.
In order to address these issues, the WCW Project has joined forces with Representative Lisa McClain to reintroduce the bipartisan AFAR Act in Congress. This act would prohibit the NIH from conducting or supporting research involving vertebrate animals in foreign countries. McClain emphasizes the need to prevent tax dollars from supporting animal testing labs in countries deemed foreign adversaries, like Russia and China. The WCW Project has uncovered that at least seven US entities have allocated a portion of their NIH grant money to Chinese labs conducting animal experiments, totaling over $3.3 million between 2015 and 2023. Some examples of these experiments include infecting animals with avian flu viruses and creating mutant malaria strains. The lack of transparency and adherence to animal care guidelines is a significant concern, which is why the WCW Project is currently suing the NIH over the loophole that exempts foreign grant recipients from certain animal care standards.
It is crucial to reevaluate the allocation of taxpayer dollars to foreign labs conducting animal experiments, especially considering the potential ethical and safety concerns. The AFAR Act represents an important step towards accountability, ensuring that taxpayer funds are not misused or supporting activities that go against established guidelines for animal welfare.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
