House Democrats press CDC for details on $1.6 million hepatitis B clinical trial in Guinea-Bissau

House Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday demanded additional information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the agency’s funding of a controversial hepatitis B clinical trial in Guinea-Bissau, according to a report published by The Hill on Oct. 22.

The dispute centers on CDC grantmaking to researchers based in Denmark. The report says the CDC awarded $1.6 million last year to Danish researchers to conduct the clinical study in Guinea-Bissau, a small country in West Africa.

In requesting answers, the Democrats said they want clarification on what the CDC-funded trial involves, how the study was selected, and what oversight and safeguards are in place, given the concerns raised by outside critics about the trial.

The request comes as congressional health committees continue to scrutinize public spending and federal health research processes, including how federal agencies choose projects abroad and how they ensure compliance with relevant ethical standards and reporting requirements.

The report also ties the attention to broader questions about federal vaccine and clinical-research coordination. It describes the inquiry as a response to growing congressional interest in how CDC’s international research funding is administered and documented for oversight purposes.

A CDC response was not described in the report. The practical effect of the committee action is to require the agency to engage with the oversight process and provide the requested information, which can shape any follow-on committee work such as additional document requests or hearings.

If the requested details are not provided or if the documents raise further questions, the committee could consider additional oversight steps, including follow-up correspondence or more formal committee inquiries, the report suggests through the context of the Democrats’ demand.