Approximately 300 employees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) voice their apprehensions regarding the organization's current state

Approximately 300 employees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) voice their apprehensions regarding the organization's current state

In a bold move, over 300 National Institutes of Health (NIH) employees, including Nobel laureates, have signed the Bethesda Declaration, expressing concerns about budget cuts, shifts in research priorities, and perceived politicization of NIH leadership under Director Jayanta Bhattacharya.

The declaration, which has garnered attention in Senate hearings and discussions by the Energy and Commerce Committee, highlights issues such as the termination of studies, the categorization of grants based on specific words, and a focus on minority health populations. The signatories accuse Bhattacharya of prioritizing political agendas over scientific integrity, human safety, and responsible use of public funds.

The Bethesda Declaration aims to address these concerns and has already sparked hope among affected segments of the federal workforce, inspiring them to push back against perceived negative impacts. Organizations like Fired But Fighting, formed by those RIF'd from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are already advocating for change.

One of the key concerns raised by the Bethesda Declaration is the moral distress experienced by NIH staff due to being asked to terminate studies midstream, putting participants at risk. This is particularly evident in cases where study participants are being pushed out of trials, often in places without adequate public health infrastructure, and left with no follow-up on safety or implanted devices with no monitoring.

Dr. Jenna Norton, the Program Director at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, has expressed concerns about the halt of science at NIH due to censorship of certain words. She, along with many other NIH employees, hopes to see an end to this censorship and seeks continued collaboration with foreign partners for critical areas of research.

In response to the Bethesda Declaration, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya released a public statement, stating that the signatories have fundamental misconceptions about what is happening at NIH. However, the declaration has intensified scrutiny of NIH leadership, particularly Director Bhattacharya, and has reinforced calls for protecting scientific independence and adequate funding for vital health research.

The impact of the Bethesda Declaration extends beyond the NIH. The declaration has also brought attention to controversial policies affecting research security, such as the Biden Administration’s exemption allowing the export of American biological materials for genetic engineering abroad. The NIH is now actively reviewing this policy to avoid compromising data integrity, patient consent, or national security.

As thousands of NIH employees are subject to reduction-in-force and are on admin leave, waiting for court cases to play out, and patients at the Clinical Center are having their care delayed due to the unavailability of staff, the Bethesda Declaration serves as a call for action to maintain the NIH’s commitment to unbiased, well-funded medical research.

Sources: [1] Federal Drive (2022) Biden Administration reviewing policy on export of American biological materials for genetic engineering abroad. [Online] Available at: https://www.federalnewsnetwork.com/daily-brief/2022/02/biden-administration-reviewing-policy-on-export-of-american-biological-materials-for-genetic-engineering-abroad/ [4] Science (2021) NIH employees sign letter protesting agency's direction under Jay Bhattacharya. [Online] Available at: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/11/nih-employees-sign-letter-protesting-agencys-direction-under-jay-bhattacharya [5] STAT News (2021) NIH employees sign open letter protesting agency's direction under Jay Bhattacharya. [Online] Available at: https://www.statnews.com/2021/11/15/nih-employees-sign-open-letter-protesting-agencys-direction-under-jay-bhattacharya/

1. The federal workforce, particularly employees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), are concerned about budget cuts, shifts in research priorities, and perceived politicization, as expressed in the Bethesda Declaration.
2. The Bethesda Declaration has gained attention in Senate hearings and discussions by the Energy and Commerce Committee, addressing issues such as study termination, grant categorization, and a focus on minority health populations.
3. The workforce reimagined by the NIH's current leadership is under scrutiny due to accusations of prioritizing political agendas over scientific integrity, human safety, and responsible use of public funds.
4. The decline in workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness, which includes mental health, is a significant concern raised by the Bethesda Declaration, as the moral distress of NIH staff is evident in cases where studies are terminated midstream.
5. The Bethesda Declaration has sparked policy-and-legislation discussions and general news coverage, extending beyond the NIH to controversial policies affecting research security, such as the Biden Administration’s exemption for exporting American biological materials for genetic engineering abroad.

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