U.S. Moves to Bar Prominent Virologist From Federal Funding

Alleging a “pattern of deception” in virus studies conducted more than a decade ago, the US government has proposed banning federal funding for a prominent coronavirus researcher whose later work fueled unproven accusations that he helped start the COVID-19 pandemic, Jon Cohen reported for Science.

HHS has now initiated formal debarment proceedings that could block Baric's access to federal funding for three years or longer. (Photo: American Life League Flickr)

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has already suspended Ralph Baric, a tenured professor at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, from receiving additional federal funding for his virology research.

HHS has now initiated formal debarment proceedings that could block his access to federal funding for three years or longer.

As Science finalized its report, UNC announced that Baric, 72, was retiring. However, Baric told Science he plans to appeal the proposed debarment, likely with legal support from the university.

According to documents shared with Science, Baric received details of the allegations in a May 7, 2026 email from HHS.

The agency accused him of deception in communications with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which has awarded more than $200 million in funding to Baric’s laboratory and collaborators over the past 40 years.