January 29, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are under scrutiny for funding controversial drug experiments on beagles at a Beijing lab linked to the Chinese Communist Party. Reports indicate that the Chinese biotech firm Pharmaron is conducting tests on up to 300 beagles weekly, with U.S. taxpayer money supporting this research aimed at treating neurological disorders.
The NIH's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences received funding from the Pentagon, amounting to $124,200, to facilitate these experiments from September 2023 to May 2025. The proposal from Pharmaron describes the beagles as 'docile' and 'cute,' asserting that all research complies with the Animal Welfare Act.
Critics, including Republican lawmakers, have called for sanctions against Pharmaron, citing the unethical treatment of animals and the potential threat to national security posed by funding Chinese labs. Justin Goodman, a senior vice president at the White Coat Waste Project, emphasized the need to halt taxpayer funding for such experiments, urging a complete defunding of animal labs in China.
Concerns have been raised about the transparency of U.S. funding for foreign research, particularly after a Pentagon audit revealed that at least $1.4 billion had been allocated for overseas gain-of-function research from 2014 to 2023. Lawmakers are demanding investigations into the relationships between U.S. agencies and Chinese companies involved in sensitive research.
Senator Roger Marshall criticized Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for potentially shielding these companies from congressional scrutiny. A bipartisan group of lawmakers previously urged investigations into WuXi AppTec, another Chinese firm, due to its alleged connections to the People's Liberation Army and intellectual property theft.
As discussions continue regarding the future of U.S. funding for animal testing and gain-of-function research, the NIH remains under pressure to clarify its funding practices and ensure compliance with ethical standards.