“I had to go and look at what was leaked as far as the banned words… and figure out what to suggest and choose,” admitted James Welch, a National Institutes of Health genetic counselor, revealing the extent to which he is coaching researchers to manipulate grant applications in order to bypass federal restrictions.
Welch, who works at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, was caught on hidden camera explaining how he helps principal investigators (PIs) at the NIH adjust their wording to avoid scrutiny from government oversight bodies, including the Department of Government Efficiency. "There are banned words that they're [DOGE] cutting grants for… Two of the words are ‘women’ and ‘female,’" Welch revealed.
Welch detailed how he actively advised a researcher to alter the language in a study on cortisol levels in Black and White women, ensuring it would not trigger red flags in the grant approval process. “Just make it not the primary objective, make it a secondary objective, and change the word ‘race’ to ‘ancestry,’” he advised.
Welch also acknowledged that NIH’s intramural research programs face fewer barriers than extramural projects funded at universities, stating, “We can do it [microdialysis] if we have the money,” highlighting the power NIH insiders wield over approving their own research.
Welch also made comments about purchasing firearms and potential retaliation against individuals at the NIH. “My mom told me today not to shoot anybody because I’ve been buying guns,” he remarked. When pressed about why he was purchasing firearms, Welch responded, “Just thinking about worst-case scenarios and being like, well, why not be prepared?”
OMG has reached out to the NIH for comment regarding Welch’s statements.
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