Opinion

Jay Bhattacharya Halts NIH Lab Operations Over Biocontainment Breach

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May 9, 2025, 10:55

Jay Bhattacharya Halts NIH Lab Operations Over Biocontainment Breach

Jay Bhattacharya, 18th NIH Director, shared a post on X:

“Two weeks ago, I ordered all work to halt at a high biosecurity risk NIH lab located in Frederick, MD. I did this because of a serious incident involving biosafety that had occurred in early March, but which did not cross my desk until weeks later.

It turns out that a contractor at the lab had deliberately cut a hole in a biocontainment suit over a personal dispute with a co-worker. Researchers are supposed to wear these suits when they do experiments with dangerous pathogens. This is how lab leaks can happen!

Jay Bhattacharya Halts NIH Lab Operations Over Biocontainment Breach

An ongoing investigation revealed a pattern – going back to the Biden administration – of safety not taken as seriously as it ought. So with Secretary Kennedy’s blessing, I immediately ordered all work to halt and all dangerous pathogens secured.

Jay Bhattacharya Halts NIH Lab Operations Over Biocontainment Breach

I won’t reopen the lab until I am satisfied that it can be done with zero risk to public safety. No more lab-generated pandemics!

Jay Bhattacharya Halts NIH Lab Operations Over Biocontainment Breach

One last media note: WIRED used the incident to somehow paint Secretary Kennedy as anti-science. He was acting responsibly to protect the public from a high-risk lab with a poor safety record, but they ignored that in their story. Sheesh!”

Read further.

Jay Bhattacharya confirmed he halted all operations at an NIH high-biosecurity lab in Frederick, MD, due to a biosafety incident involving tampering with a biocontainment suit. He cited a broader pattern of inadequate safety practices and will keep the lab closed until public safety can be assured.

More posts featuring Jay Bhattacharya.