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Stand Up for Science!
@standupforscience.net

In Feb 2026, we dispatched an experienced associate with decades of West Africa investigative journalism expertise to conduct an on-the-ground fact-finding investigation. We presented this to Congress in a closed briefing. A thread of our findings🧵 www.standupforscience.foundation/policy-and-a...

standupforscience.foundationInvestigation Report: CDC-Funded Hepatitis B Vaccine Trial in Guinea-Bissau — Stand Up for Science FoundationOn-the-ground fact-finding in Guinea-Bissau regarding a planned Hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine trial funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the local oversight condit...

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Stand Up for Science!
@standupforscience.net

Our on-the-ground investigation found that Guinea-Bissau’s institutional instability and severe resource constraints raise significant concerns about whether ANY complex clinical trial can be ethically overseen without extraordinary safeguards. The ENTIRE yearly public health budget is <$500k USD.

Stand Up for Science!
@standupforscience.net

Major conflicts of interest on the GB ethics board: 1st source: “a mafia” & alleged members paid “one way or another by Bandim.” 2nd former deputy minister of health: “a fan club… a friend’s club.” 3rd: ppl “inside the committee” were employed by Bandim & ethics sign-off occurred despite COIs.

Stand Up for Science!
@standupforscience.net

Our investigation repeatedly encountered a central structural problem: Guinea-Bissau’s health infrastructure appears deeply dependent on Bandim, complicating the independence of oversight. INASA sources asserted that Bandim “is the government,” and INASA refused to provide document access.

Stand Up for Science!
@standupforscience.net

A second source said the government was “too dependent” on Bandim describing reliance on Bandim-linked processes for civil registration and vital statistics & that “all the evidence in intervention projects… malaria, TB… all of it comes from Bandim.”