Zhang Yongzhen, the first scientist to publish a sequence of the COVID-19 virus in China, was locked out of his lab after being told to leave for renovations. This sparked a dispute between Zhang and the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center where his lab is located. After days of sitting in protest outside his lab, Zhang and his team were tentatively allowed back in to continue their research. However, Zhang is negotiating plans to relocate his lab to avoid future disruptions in their work. The pressure on Chinese scientists related to COVID-19 research continues as authorities try to control information related to the virus.
The Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center claimed that Zhang’s lab was closed for safety reasons during renovations and that an alternative laboratory space was provided to his team. However, Zhang disagreed, stating that the alternative lab offered did not meet safety standards for their research work and left his team in a state of uncertainty. This conflict with his host institution is the latest in a series of setbacks Zhang has faced since publishing the virus sequence without state approval in January 2020. The Chinese government has been adamant about controlling information about the virus since its emergence, creating obstacles for researchers like Zhang.
Zhang’s troubles began when he decoded the COVID-19 virus with his team in January 2020. Despite issuing an internal notice to Chinese authorities warning of the virus’s potential to spread, Zhang did not make the sequence public. After pressure from officials, Zhang published the sequence on January 11, 2020, without permission. Sequencing a virus is crucial for the development of test kits and vaccinations. The virus eventually led to a global pandemic that disrupted lives and caused millions of deaths. Although Zhang received recognition from overseas for his work, he faced consequences in China, including being removed from a post at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and barred from collaborations.
Despite the challenges Zhang has faced, he continues to have support within the government. Some of Zhang’s online posts were deleted, but his sit-in protest was reported in state-controlled media, indicating a divide within the Chinese government on how to handle the situation. Zhang expressed gratitude for the support he received from his followers and members of various communities. Research related to the origins and transmission of COVID-19 remains a sensitive topic in China, with restrictions placed on labs, collaborations disrupted, and scientists facing consequences for their work. Zhang’s case highlights the ongoing struggle for transparency in scientific research, especially in the context of a global health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.
