US biology lab locked down for more than a week amid smuggling inquiry

"Biologists at Indiana University (IU) Bloomington have been locked out of their laboratories for more than a week, after the university suddenly changed locks on its biology building on 7 May. Although university officials restored access to some labs yesterday, many scientists among the dozens originally affected still can't reach their offices or equipment, such as freezers, where crucial reagents are stored."

"University officials initially told the researchers that the lockdown was done at the request of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is investigating the lab of Roger Innes, a prominent plant microbiologist at IU. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the USDA have been scrutinizing Innes and his research team ever since November 2025, when the FBI arrested postdoctoral fellow Youhuang Xiang for having imported biological samples into the United States from China without declaring them."

"The USDA has denied ordering the lab lockdown, and a 13 May agency notice sent to Innes that's been seen by Nature prohibits moving samples from the site, but does not request a lab shutdown or work stoppage. Innes and the seven members of his team had to label every biological sample in their lab, including thousands of seeds, to prepare for an official USDA inspection next week, on 19 May. Other labs with shared space have also been asked to label their seed samples."

"Innes has characterized the government investigations as retaliation; he has openly criticized deportations of Chinese scientists for smuggling experimental samples over the past year that the US government has characterized as dangerous. He also says that IU's lockdown is "extreme compliance" with the USDA's request. An IU spokesperson did not respond to Nature 's questions, but shared an e-mail stating that the lockdown was done to "ensure compliance with the USDA's instructions that materials not be moved or destroyed"."

Biologists at Indiana University Bloomington were locked out of biology laboratories for more than a week after the university changed locks on 7 May. Some access was restored, but many researchers still cannot reach offices or equipment, including freezers that store crucial reagents. University officials initially said the lockdown followed a request from the US Department of Agriculture during an investigation of plant microbiologist Roger Innes. The USDA denied ordering the shutdown, and a 13 May notice prohibits moving samples but does not require a lab shutdown or work stoppage. Innes and his team labeled thousands of seeds to prepare for a USDA inspection on 19 May, and other shared-space labs were asked to label seed samples as well.

Read at Nature