The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is terminating a program initiated by Dr. Anthony Fauci in 2020, known as the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID), while Justice Department officials begin investigating one of its grant recipients. Kristian Andersen, a researcher at Scripps Research Institute and CREID grant recipient, is reportedly preparing to relocate to the University of Oslo amid growing scrutiny.
The NIH confirmed the shutdown of the CREID grants, which initially received $17 million with planned funding of $82 million in subsequent years. While ensuring proper closure of these programs, the agency is shifting focus toward disease prevention rather than pathogen-specific responses.
Two CREID recipients have faced particular examination: Peter Daszak of EcoHealth Alliance and Kristian Andersen. Daszak’s organization was eventually barred from receiving federal funds due to incomplete safety documentation regarding their work with the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Andersen’s involvement has drawn attention due to his authorship of the influential “Proximal Origin” paper in Nature Medicine, which dismissed lab-origin theories for COVID-19. The paper, published shortly before Andersen received his CREID grant, has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest. While Andersen testified to Congress that the grant application predated the paper’s conclusions, records indicate the grant wasn’t finalized until after publication.
Further complications arose regarding Andersen’s interactions with U.S. intelligence agencies. As a Danish citizen, his role in briefing the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research has raised counterintelligence concerns. Internal communications revealed that Andersen privately expressed doubts about the virus’s origin while publicly dismissing lab-origin possibilities.
Recent scientific developments have added weight to these concerns. Research by Andreas Martin Lisewski at Constructor University suggests laboratory origins for a key viral component, findings that were later presented by virologist Christian Drosten at a World Health
Organization meeting.
Andersen’s apparent move to the University of Oslo represents a significant step down from his position at the prestigious Scripps Research Institute. The transition began with an October lecture at Oslo, sponsored by professors Anne Spurkland, Rein Aasland, and Nils Christian Stenseth. The Norwegian Society for Immunology later apologized for the lecture’s apparent attempt to stifle debate on COVID-19’s origins.
Despite controversy, Andersen secured membership in the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters through the support of Oslo faculty. However, his potential appointment faces opposition from local academics, including molecular biologist Sigrid Bratlie, who recently published a book suggesting a lab-origin cover-up for the pandemic.
The Justice Department’s inquiry extends to Nature Medicine, questioning their handling of potential author misconduct. Officials are investigating whether the “Proximal Origin” paper represented a quid pro quo arrangement related to the CREID grant.
The NIH’s current leadership, under Director Jay Bhattacharya, has not commented on these developments. The agency maintains that while pandemic preparedness remains crucial, their approach now emphasizes overall health resilience rather than focusing on unknown pathogens.
These events highlight ongoing debates about scientific integrity, research funding, and international collaboration in pandemic response. As investigations continue, the implications for future research oversight and international scientific cooperation remain uncertain.