Outrage greets NIH pact that could funnel biodefense research funds to Pentagon
BLUF – NIH and the Pentagon have signed a 10-year agreement enabling project-by-project collaboration and potential transfer of NIAID biodefense research funding to Defense Department programs, prompting concerns from lawmakers and scientists about congressional oversight, research transparency and the possible diversion of civilian infectious-disease resources. For Navy Medicine, the partnership could strengthen military research on vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics and protective equipment against biological, chemical, radiological, nuclear and emerging infectious-disease threats, potentially accelerating medical countermeasures relevant to force health protection and future conflicts.