BLOOMINGTON — A federal investigation into the Indiana University Biology Department has escalated, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ordering the destruction of biological materials inside a campus research lab.
The enforcement action follows a “regulatory visit” by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine alongside the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The sudden inspection forced the university to temporarily seal off six rooms in Myers Hall last month.
According to officials, federal and state regulators mandated the immediate disposal of any research samples classified as “unknown,” unregulated materials with untraceable origins, or items obtained under expired permits.
Federal regulators went so far as ordering house plants sitting on a windowsill to be destroyed.
University officials emphasized that the forced disposal did not impact the broader biology department.
Professor Innes’ lab has been under intense federal scrutiny since April, following the high-profile arrest of researcher Youhuang Xiang. Xiang pleaded guilty to federal smuggling charges after intercepting a shipment of E. coli DNA sent from China, which had been concealed inside a package of women’s underwear.
While officials stressed the materials did not pose a threat to public health, the FBI reports that Xiang was suspected of operating on behalf of the Chinese government in a potential corporate espionage or research-theft scheme.
USDA says the investigation is still active.
