The board overseeing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center issued a firm rebuke of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday, expressing concerns that his recent actions could undermine public confidence in scientific research. In a unanimous vote, the board endorsed a statement from its chairman, Jack Leslie, criticizing Kennedy for politicizing the hospital’s work through his handling of a new vaccine injury clinic.

At the board’s quarterly meeting, Leslie read a detailed statement addressing Kennedy’s unannounced visit to the NIH, where the secretary conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the clinic and led a roundtable discussion with individuals who claim to have been harmed by vaccines. Leslie acknowledged that serious vaccine injuries are rare but warrant thorough study. However, he voiced worry that Kennedy’s public announcement on social media, accompanied by a video featuring “Vaccine Injured” signs, suggested a presumption of vaccine harm rather than an impartial scientific inquiry.

Leslie emphasized that the perception of bias could damage trust in the research. He pointed out that if the studies find evidence of harm, many would dismiss the findings as biased due to Kennedy’s well-known critical stance on vaccines. Conversely, if no harm is identified, affected patients might view the clinic as disingenuous. “Either way, they are left with answers no one trusts — and science only helps patients when the public believes it,” Leslie said. He underscored that the clinical center’s credibility depends heavily on patient, physician, and public confidence that investigations are conducted to uncover the truth rather than to confirm preconceived conclusions.

Kennedy’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

The NIH Clinical Center, which is entirely dedicated to research and patient care related to clinical trials, has a governing board composed of biomedical experts, healthcare administrators, public health professionals, and patient representatives. Established a decade ago, the board focuses on ensuring the safety and quality of the hospital’s operations.

Leslie, who has an extensive background advising global health organizations and government bodies across administrations, stated that he was prompted to bring the vaccine injury initiative to the board’s attention after reviewing media coverage of Kennedy’s announcement. He contacted Dr. Jonathan Green, the center’s CEO, to include the topic on the meeting’s agenda.

During Friday’s meeting, Dr. Green described the vaccine injury clinic as an extension of ongoing NIH research on vaccine safety and efficacy, which has been conducted for decades. He clarified that the clinic would not require additional resources and assured that its work would undergo the same rigorous scientific and ethical review processes as all other NIH studies.