Indiana University Bloomington Restricts Lab Access During Federal Investigation

Biologists at Indiana University 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. The move came amid an investigation by the US government that includes scrutiny of one lab by the US Department of Agriculture, @Nature reported. University officials restored access to some labs on 14 May.

Many scientists among the dozens originally affected still cannot reach their offices or equipment. Affected scientists cannot access freezers where crucial reagents are stored. The lock change and lockout come amid an investigation by the US government, according to @Nature.

A lab at Indiana University Bloomington is under scrutiny from the US Department of Agriculture. The university has not detailed the nature of the federal probe or which specific lab remains restricted. The lockout began on 7 May when the biology building's locks were changed without prior notice to researchers working inside.

By the following week, more than a dozen biologists remained unable to enter workspaces they had used for years. Access was partially restored on 14 May, five days after the initial lockdown and one day before the current date. Even so, freezers containing temperature-sensitive reagents critical to ongoing experiments stayed off-limits for many of the affected scientists.

@Nature reported that the lock change occurred in the context of a broader US government investigation. One laboratory within the building has drawn specific attention from the US Department of Agriculture, though the agency has released no public statement on the matter. Dozens of researchers were initially barred from the building.

While some regained entry this week, others continue to report they cannot retrieve personal notes, samples or specialized equipment required for their work. The timing of the lock change on 7 May coincided with the early stages of the federal inquiry. University administrators have declined to comment on whether the measure was taken at the request of investigators or as an internal precaution.

Scientists locked out described the situation as unprecedented on the Bloomington campus. Reagents stored in the inaccessible freezers cannot be easily replaced, raising the prospect of lost experiments that had been under way for months.