“NIH Shuts Down Research Center Founded by Fauci”
Officials at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have announced the termination of the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID), a research program launched in 2020 under the leadership of Dr. Anthony Fauci. The decision follows ongoing investigations and public controversy surrounding the funding and activities of researchers linked to the zoonotic origin theory of COVID-19.
Established to explore how viruses spill over from wildlife to humans, CREID initially issued 11 grants totaling $17 million, with $82 million in additional funding projected over five years. The program attracted attention for awarding grants to prominent figures such as Dr. Peter Daszak of EcoHealth Alliance and Dr. Kristian Andersen of Scripps Research Institute—both of whom have come under intense scrutiny for their roles in promoting the now-contested theory that SARS-CoV-2 originated in wildlife.
An NIH spokesperson confirmed to The Disinformation Chronicle that all remaining CREID grants have been canceled. The agency cited a renewed emphasis on strengthening public health through proactive prevention, rather than relying exclusively on vaccines or treatment after pathogen emergence.
Researchers at the Center of Controversy
Dr. Kristian Andersen, co-author of the influential 2020 paper The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2, played a key role in shaping early narratives around COVID-19’s origins. That paper, published in Nature Medicine, argued for a natural, zoonotic emergence of the virus and was widely cited by federal officials and major media outlets.
However, documents later released through congressional investigations and media reporting revealed that Andersen and several other scientists initially raised concerns about the possibility of a lab-based origin. Transcripts from February 2020 show Andersen describing an accidental lab release as “highly likely” and expressing uncertainty about the possibility of viral manipulation.
Despite these reservations, Andersen and his co-authors proceeded with publishing Proximal Origin in March 2020. Soon after, he was awarded a CREID grant. During testimony before Congress in 2023, Andersen denied any link between the grant and the conclusions of the paper—a claim later challenged by documents obtained by The Intercept.
According to reports, Andersen also briefed the CIA, FBI, and the State Department on COVID-19 origins, downplaying the lab-leak theory. A State Department official quoted by The Disinformation Chronicle suggested these briefings may now be part of a wider Department of Justice inquiry into whether Andersen knowingly misled U.S. intelligence agencies.
DOJ Inquiries and Broader Investigations
The Department of Justice has initiated “initial inquiries” into at least one CREID grant awarded to Andersen. Meanwhile, EcoHealth Alliance, led by Daszak, had all federal funding suspended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2023 due to unanswered safety-related concerns tied to the organization’s collaboration with the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Daszak, who issued subawards to the Wuhan lab’s lead coronavirus researcher, Dr. Shi Zhengli, also known as the “Bat Lady,” has been criticized for failing to disclose key connections. These developments fueled accusations of inadequate oversight and transparency in federal pandemic research funding.
In response to such concerns, the NIH recently implemented a new policy prohibiting NIH grantees from subcontracting research to foreign laboratories through subawards—a move widely interpreted as a response to the fallout from EcoHealth’s activities in China.
Andersen Reportedly Planning to Leave U.S.
As scrutiny intensifies, reports suggest that Andersen, a Danish national, is considering leaving the United States. According to The Disinformation Chronicle, he may accept a position at the University of Oslo in Norway. Norwegian molecular biologist Sigrid Bratlie confirmed that an effort to bring Andersen to the university is underway and may soon be finalized.
Andersen visited Oslo in October 2024 to deliver a lecture titled “Facts and Fiction of the Pandemic,” during which he dismissed critiques of his work as political attacks. The Norwegian Society for Immunology, which hosted the event, later issued a public apology, stating the lecture appeared aimed at suppressing open debate rather than fostering scientific dialogue.
Political Fallout and Unanswered Questions
Journalist Paul D. Thacker, a former U.S. Senate investigator and publisher of The Disinformation Chronicle, expressed concern about the pace and scope of congressional inquiries into the pandemic’s origins.
“Congressional investigations into these matters were not well managed,” said Thacker. “A lot of people are still shocked at how little got done.”
The Trump administration has since relaunched an official COVID-19 government portal, now aligning with the lab-leak theory, which is also supported by the FBI, CIA, Department of Energy, and several congressional investigations.
As scrutiny over the pandemic’s origins and federal research practices continues to unfold, the closure of the CREID program marks a significant turning point in the accountability and direction of U.S. pandemic preparedness efforts.
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