Grassley Requests Information from NIH Director on Concerning Alcohol Study

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote to the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the primary federal government agency responsible for medical and public health research, seeking answers about a recent New York Times report about an NIH study on the long term effects of daily alcohol consumption that is reportedly in large part funded by alcohol companies.

According to the New York Times, two scientists and a senior federal health official pitched the study, which would “deliver all the medical evidence needed to recommend a daily alcoholic drink as part of a healthy lifestyle” to alcohol company executives. The apparent conflict of interest raised red flags and prompted an investigation into whether health officials violated federal policy while attempting to solicit donations for the project from members of the alcohol industry. Five alcohol companies have pledged to contribute more than $67 million toward the 10-year study’s $100 million price tag. Donations are being paid through the Foundation for the NIH.

Several Iowans brought this issue to Grassley’s attention after reading the reports published by the New York Times. In response, Grassley is asking the NIH to answer several questions about its investigation into this potential conflict of interest, including whether fundraising efforts for the project violated federal policy and if so, what will happen with the ongoing clinical trial and how NIAAA plans to ensure scientific integrity and independence through the course of the project.

Full text of the letter is available here and below.

The Honorable Dr. Francis Collins

Director

National Institutes of Health

Dear Dr. Collins:

According to a New York Times article published on March 17, 2018, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is currently conducting a 10 year governmental trial focused on the effects of daily alcohol consumption, and this study is in large part funded by alcohol companies including Anheuser Busch InBev and Heineken. The article detailed disturbing allegations that the institute worked aggressively to secure funding from the alcohol industry and that documents acquired from the New York Times “show that the institute waged a vigorous campaign to court the alcohol industry, paying for scientists to travel to meetings with executives, where they gave talks strongly suggesting that the study’s results would endorse moderate drinking as healthy” well in advance of the study having even begun.[1] The article also states that “the fundraising may have violated [National Institutes of Health] policy, which prohibits employees from soliciting or suggesting donations, funds or other resources intended to support activities.”[2] At the very least, the appearance of a conflict of interest has made the scientific integrity of the trial suspect.

I was pleased to see in a subsequent New York Times article published on March 20, 2018, that the NIH will be conducting an investigation to determine whether health officials violated federal policy with these fundraising efforts.[3] Given the ongoing investigation that your office is conducting, and the concerning nature of the allegations against the NIAAA, I request that your office provide a briefing to my staff, as well as provide written responses to the following questions no later than May 30, 2018:

1. What are the current findings of the investigation into the solicitation of donations?
2. Are the scientists leading the study the same people who conducted the fundraising efforts?
3. If the fundraising efforts did violate federal policy, what will be done with the ongoing clinical trial?
4. How does the NIAAA plan to ensure scientific integrity and independence of the trial, in the face of such widespread public controversy?

Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to these matters.  Should you have any questions, please contact Josh Flynn-Brown of my Judiciary Committee staff at (202) 224-5225.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley                            

Chairman

Committee on the Judiciary

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