China Initiative inquiries left researchers feeling ‘targeted, alienated’, US agency says

National Institutes of Health is trying to mend ties with Asian researchers, but scientist says damage is ‘almost irreversible’

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The National Institutes of Health is the US government’s primary agency for biomedical and public health research. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 8:00pm, 26 Aug 2024Updated: 8:17pm, 26 Aug 2024

Six years after former US president Donald Trump’s administration launched its controversial China Initiative targeting scientists for suspected connections with Beijing, a government agency that led most of the investigations has acknowledged the “difficult climate” its inquiries created, but stopped short of offering an apology.

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the US government’s main agency for biomedical and public health research, said that as of June 9, a total of 112 of those scientists – mostly of Asian descent – had lost their jobs through dismissals or forced retirements for alleged undisclosed links to China.

Aside from casting doubts over the integrity of dozens of scientists, the NIH’s prosecution of Chinese-born US faculty researchers has also been criticised for harming life sciences research in the US.

Earlier this month, Monica Bertagnolli, director of the NIH, issued a statement expressing support for Asian-American, Asian immigrant and Asian research colleagues.

She acknowledged that the government actions “had the unintended consequence” for Asian-American and Asian research colleagues “who may feel targeted and alienated”.

According to the statement, the NIH is now working with universities and academic organisations to take steps to repair relations with Asian researchers, including research security training and the promotion of international scientific collaboration.