NIH investigating foreign influence in U.S.-funded research

NIH has issued a letter to more than 10,000 of its grantee institutions warning about foreign influence in their biomedical research and asking them to disclose relationships with or support from foreign partners. NIH also established a new working group to increase research security while the agency continues to collaborate with foreign scientists and institutions.

Testifying before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Thursday, NIH Director Francis Collins raised concerns about "undue foreign influence" in U.S.-funded biomedical research. Collins said the agency's own investigations as well as conversations with federal law enforcement agencies and media reports suggest the magnitude of foreign influence is increasing, prompting NIH’s actions...