New "Center to End Corporate Harm" aims to combat disease epidemic by holding corporate polluters accountable
By willowt // 2025-01-24
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  • FDA emails reveal critical failures in government monitoring of COVID-19 vaccine injuries, exposing inconsistent safety signals for different vaccines.
  • Despite consistent safety alerts for the Janssen vaccine, the FDA and CDC continued to promote it until its emergency use authorization was withdrawn.
  • The FDA’s monitoring of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines was inadequate, with over 1.4 million adverse event reports, yet no significant safety signals detected.
  • CDC’s Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR) analysis revealed potential safety signals for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that the FDA’s mining failed to detect, raising questions about the agencies' commitment to public health.
  • The release of these emails highlights the need for transparency, accountability, and independent oversight in vaccine safety monitoring, with calls for further investigation into undisclosed records.
In a groundbreaking move that could reshape the fight against chronic disease, a coalition of scientists has launched the Center to End Corporate Harm at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). This bold initiative aims to tackle what researchers are calling an “industrial epidemic of disease,” driven by pollution and harmful products pushed by powerful corporations. With a mission to hold industries accountable and protect public health, the center is already generating excitement among health advocates worldwide.

A new front in the fight for public health

The Center to End Corporate Harm is not just another research institution—it’s a rallying cry for transparency, accountability and systemic change. According to its founders, industries producing fossil fuels, plastics, petrochemicals, tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed foods have long manipulated science and policy to prioritize profits over public health. These industries, they argue, are responsible for approximately one in three deaths globally and have fueled a dramatic rise in chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s and dementia. “Time and again, health-harming industries have lied about their products, hiding the harms from the public and regulators,” said Nicholas Chartres, PhD, the center’s lead scientific advisor. “Now, many of these industries are collectively the leading cause of death and disease globally.” The center’s launch comes at a critical moment. Chronic diseases are surging at alarming rates, with cancer diagnoses up 175%, diabetes cases skyrocketing by 283%, and Parkinson’s and dementia rates climbing by 133% and 75%, respectively, in the U.S. alone. Researchers attribute these trends to widespread exposure to industrial pollutants and the aggressive marketing of harmful products.

Exposing corporate tactics and rigged systems

One of the center’s primary goals is to expose the tactics industries use to undermine public health. From lobbying efforts that weaken regulations to manipulating scientific research, corporations have long rigged the system in their favor. The center will leverage the UCSF Industry Documents Library, a treasure trove of millions of internal corporate documents, to uncover these practices and hold companies accountable. “Health-harming industries such as fossil fuels, plastics, chemicals, tobacco and ultra-processed foods have rigged the regulatory and political systems in their favor,” said Tracey Woodruff, PhD, director of the new center. “It’s critical to public health to hold these industries accountable.” The center’s work will also focus on identifying financial ties and lobbying efforts that influence science and policy. By shining a light on these connections, researchers hope to dismantle the systems that allow harmful products to flourish.

A collaborative approach to countering corporate harm

What sets the *Center to End Corporate Harm* apart is its collaborative, multidisciplinary approach. The center brings together scientists, researchers and physicians from UCSF’s Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE), Center for Climate, Health and Equity, Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, and Institute for Health Policy Studies. It also includes experts from the University of Colorado and the University of Sydney, creating a global network of advocates for public health. “The increase in many chronic diseases is the manifestation of a global economic system that prioritizes products and profit over health,” said Woodruff. “This is producing an industrial epidemic of disease.” The center’s work builds on past successes in public health advocacy, such as the fight against Big Tobacco. Pamela Ling, MD, MPH, who leads UCSF’s Center for Tobacco Control Research & Education, noted that pushing back against tobacco companies led to significant progress, though the battle continues as these companies pivot to e-cigarettes and ultra-processed foods. “The good news is that when the public health community pushed back on tobacco, it worked,” said Ling. “We can do the same with other health-harming industries.”

A hopeful future for health advocacy

The launch of the Center to End Corporate Harm marks a turning point in the fight against chronic disease. By targeting the root causes of the “industrial epidemic,” researchers are taking a proactive stance to protect public health and hold corporations accountable for their role in the crisis. For health freedom advocates, this initiative is a beacon of hope. It represents a shift toward prioritizing people over profits and science over corporate influence. As the center begins its work, the message is clear: the tide is turning, and the fight for a healthier future is gaining momentum. “This is about more than just research—it’s about creating a movement,” said Chartres. “We’re working to change the system, and we won’t stop until we’ve ended the corporate harm that’s costing lives every day.” With its bold vision and collaborative approach, the Center to End Corporate Harm is poised to make waves in the world of public health. For those who have long advocated for transparency, accountability and a healthier future, this is a moment worth celebrating. The fight against the disease epidemic is far from over, but with initiatives like this, progress is finally within reach. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org TheNewLede.org prheucs.blog
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