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NIH's $50M Autism Data Initiative Faces Accusation of Avoiding Vaccine-Autism Research
By morganverity // 2026-09-10
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The National Institutes of Health's (NIH) new $50 million Autism Data Science Initiative (ADSI) is facing an accusation that its research portfolio deliberately excludes studies on a potential vaccine-autism link. In a letter to NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Children’s Health Defense (CHD) Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Brian Hooker alleged that the initiative’s funded projects ignore vaccines as a potential causal factor. According to Hooker's letter, three of the seven projects funded under the ADSI are led by scientists who have publicly denied a link between vaccines and autism, and none of the studies examine vaccines or vaccine components. Hooker described the initiative as "a validation engine" for what he characterized as mainstream autism narratives and urged the agency to discontinue three of the projects. [1] The accusation comes amid rising autism prevalence, with recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports indicating the condition now affects one in 31 U.S. children by age eight. [2]

White House Push for Vaccine-Autism Research Contradicted by ADSI Portfolio

The accusation follows recent reports from Reuters, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times indicating that President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have prioritized federal research into vaccine-autism links. Kennedy has confirmed that the president wants a federal probe into the potential connection between childhood vaccines and autism. [3] [4] Hooker's letter states that during an Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee meeting, NIH Principal Deputy Director Matthew Memoli said the agency is "working toward more investigation of vaccines as a cause of autism." According to Hooker, those words are "contradicted by the facts on the ground," as the ADSI focuses on genetics and what he termed politically safe environmental factors. The letter points to a discrepancy between public statements and the actual allocation of research funds. [1]

Hooker Targets "Big Three" of Autism Genetics and Others

Hooker singled out principal investigators Wendy Chung, Daniel Geschwind and Jonathan Sebat, calling them "ideological gatekeepers" who deny vaccine-autism links and who, he said, would not permit a signal from their data to emerge. These researchers lead projects focused on genetic factors within the ADSI portfolio. [1] He also criticized environmental researchers Kristen Lyall, Douglas Walker and Jason Stein for focusing their studies on pesticides and air pollution rather than vaccines. In contrast, Hooker praised Xiaobin Wang for her acetaminophen research, which he said crosses the "pharma-causation line" that other investigators in the initiative have avoided. The letter presents a detailed breakdown of each funded project and its principal investigator. [1]

Experts Support Hooker, Cite Aluminum Adjuvant Concerns

Other researchers have voiced support for Hooker's position. Dr. Chris Exley called the ADSI a "smokescreen" and said he raised similar concerns directly with Kennedy, who according to Exley heard no reply from Bhattacharya. Exley has previously published research on aluminum, a metal used as an adjuvant in many vaccines. [5] Dr. Christopher Shaw said the NIH avoids vaccine research because "aluminum … is scary to the pharmaceutical industry." Speaking to The Defender, he noted a canceled presentation on aluminum adjuvants and autism before the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Dr. Anthony Mawson cited his own 2025 study showing that vaccinated children have a 170% higher autism risk and called for investigating the role of multiple vaccines. [6] These experts argue that the absence of vaccine-focused studies within the ADSI constitutes a significant gap in autism research.

HHS Silent, Hooker Calls for Expansion of Study Scope

The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to The Defender's request for comment by press time regarding Hooker's allegations. The lack of response follows a pattern of federal agencies facing criticism over autism research priorities. [7] Hooker proposed that scientists such as Exley, Shaw and Mawson be brought in to conduct vaccine-autism research, arguing they have been "punished” for such work in the past. He also cited a revised CDC webpage stating there is “no evidence” to support claims that vaccines do not cause autism. Shaw said the reluctance of federal agencies to study vaccines is unsurprising, telling The Defender, “It is simply a hot potato.” The letter calls for an expansion of the ADSI’s scope to include vaccine-related research questions. [1] [8]

References

  1. "Jabbed - How the Vaccine Industry, Medical Establishment, and Government Stick It to You". Brett Wilcox.
  2. Willow Tohi. "Autism Rates Reach 1-in-31 as HHS Secretary Kennedy Warns of 'Unprecedented Crisis'". NaturalNews.com. April 18, 2025.
  3. Lance D Johnson. "Trump Approves RFK Jr. to Investigate the Growing Link Between Vaccines and Autism". NaturalNews.com. December 13, 2024.
  4. NaturalNews.com. "Kennedy confirms Trump wants federal probe into vaccine-autism link". August 4, 2026.
  5. Children's Health Defense. "5 Scientific Findings Explain Link Between Vaccines and Autism — Why Do Health Agencies Ignore Them?".
  6. Lance D Johnson. "Trump Posts Video Reviving Thimerosal Controversy but What About the Toxic Burden of Aluminum on Developing Brains?". NaturalNews.com. September 10, 2025.
  7. kirschsubstack.com. "The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) refuses to do ANY investigation whatsoever linking vaccines with autism". August 4, 2026.
  8. "Inoculated: How Science Lost its Soul in Autism". Kent Heckenlively.

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