Robert Malone is an American biochemist credited for performing an experiment on messenger RNA (mRNA) in 1987, in which he mixed strands of mRNA with droplets of fat. Human cells that came into contact with the mRNA strands absorbed them and began creating proteins. These experiments were important for the eventual creation of mRNA-based vaccines against COVID-19. 1
Malone has criticized the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna, suggesting that the vaccines were potentially exacerbating COVID-19 infections. Malone also stated that a “third of the population [is] basically being hypnotized” to believe what mainstream media outlets and what former White House Chief Medical Advisor Anthony Fauci reported regarding vaccines. 2 3
Background and Education
Robert Malone is an American biochemist who was involved in developing technologies related to mRNA and DNA vaccines; has designed, developed, and provided oversight for several clinical trials; and has been involved with advanced development oversight of infectious disease pathogens that include HIV, Influenza, and Zika. 4
Malone graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1984 after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. He continued his education at the University of California, San Diego, where he graduated with a master’s degree in biology in 1989, before graduating from Northwestern University Medical School, Feinburg School of Medicine, in 1991. 5
During his time at the University of California, Davis, Malone received “one year of pathology residence training” at the university’s Sacramento Medical Center. Malone also completed a Giannini post-doctoral research fellowship at the university’s Department of Pathology in 1992. He also completed a Harvard Medical School Global Clinical Research Scholars fellowship in 2016. 6
Career
Malone was an assistant and associate professor of surgery and/or pathology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences between 1992 and 2001. 7
After leaving his positions in education, Malone worked as the associate director of clinical research at the Dynport Vaccine Company from 2002 until 2003 and as director of business development and program management for Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation from 2004 until 2005. Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a left-of-center private grantmaking foundation that spent hundreds of millions of dollars to promote and implement the highly controversial national Common Core education standards, and has come under scrutiny for purportedly cornering the market on global health initiatives and encroaching on the territory of public organizations with parallel vision such as the World Health Organization. 8 9 10
Malone was also a senior medical director at Summit Drug Development Services from 2005 until 2006, director of clinical development and medical affairs for Solvay Pharmaceuticals between 2006 and 2008, and medical director of vaccines for Beardsworth Consulting Group from 2010 until 2013. 11
mRNA Work
Malone is credited for his 1987 experiment on messenger RNA (mRNA), in which he mixed strands of mRNA with droplets of fat. Human cells that came into contact with the mRNA strands absorbed them and began creating proteins. 12
According to Nature, Malone noted that if cells could create proteins from mRNA, it was possible to “treat RNA as a drug.” Later that year, Malone’s experiments proved that frog embryos were able to absorb mRNA. 13
COVID-19 Vaccination Claims
Malone received criticism for his opposition to mRNA-type coronavirus vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna. During an interview, Malone suggested that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were potentially exacerbating COVID-19 infections. 14
Malone, while speaking on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during an anti-vaccine mandate protest in January 2022, stated that the “genetic covid vaccines” were “not working,” and that COVID-19 “should never have been politicized.” 15
During an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Malone also stated that a “third of the population [is] basically being hypnotized” to believe what mainstream media outlets and what Anthony Fauci reported regarding vaccines. 16
Malone was banned from Twitter in January 2022 for his views on the COVID-19 vaccines but was reinstated to the website in December 2022 after it was acquired by Elon Musk. 17
Supporters of the COVID-19 vaccines criticized Malone for making exaggerated statements comparing COVID-19 response policies to Nazi Germany’s criminal regime and for placing his credentials in the service of alleged misinformation. 18
References
- Dolgin, Elie. “The tangled history of mRNA vaccines.” January 23, 2018. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02483-w.
- Bartlett, Tom. “The Vaccine Scientist Spreading Vaccine Misinformation.” The Atlantic. August 12, 2021. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/08/robert-malone-vaccine-inventor-vaccine-skeptic/619734/.
- Bella, Timothy. “A vaccine scientist’s discredited claims have bolstered a movement of misinformation.” The Washington Post. January 24, 2022. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/01/24/robert-malone-vaccine-misinformation-rogan-mandates/.
- “Exhibit F – Declaration of Dr. Robert Malone – #30, Att. #6 in Navy Seal 1 v. Austin (M.D. Fla., 8:21-cv-02429) – CourtListener.com.” Declaration of Dr. Robert Malone #30, Att. #6 in . Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60650721/30/6/navy-seal-1-v-austin/.
- “Exhibit F – Declaration of Dr. Robert Malone – #30, Att. #6 in Navy Seal 1 v. Austin (M.D. Fla., 8:21-cv-02429) – CourtListener.com.” Declaration of Dr. Robert Malone #30, Att. #6 in . Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60650721/30/6/navy-seal-1-v-austin/.
- “Exhibit F – Declaration of Dr. Robert Malone – #30, Att. #6 in Navy Seal 1 v. Austin (M.D. Fla., 8:21-cv-02429) – CourtListener.com.” Declaration of Dr. Robert Malone #30, Att. #6 in . Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60650721/30/6/navy-seal-1-v-austin/.
- “Exhibit F – Declaration of Dr. Robert Malone – #30, Att. #6 in Navy Seal 1 v. Austin (M.D. Fla., 8:21-cv-02429) – CourtListener.com.” Declaration of Dr. Robert Malone #30, Att. #6 in . Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60650721/30/6/navy-seal-1-v-austin/
- “Exhibit F – Declaration of Dr. Robert Malone – #30, Att. #6 in Navy Seal 1 v. Austin (M.D. Fla., 8:21-cv-02429) – CourtListener.com.” Declaration of Dr. Robert Malone #30, Att. #6 in . Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60650721/30/6/navy-seal-1-v-austin/.
- “Newint.Org.” April 1, 2012. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://newint.org/features/2012/04/01/bill-gates-charitable-giving-ethics.
- “Editorial: Gates Foundation failures show philanthropists shouldn’t be setting America’s public school agenda.” LA Times. June 1, 2016. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-gates-education-20160601-snap-story.html.
- “Exhibit F – Declaration of Dr. Robert Malone – #30, Att. #6 in Navy Seal 1 v. Austin (M.D. Fla., 8:21-cv-02429) – CourtListener.com.” Declaration of Dr. Robert Malone #30, Att. #6 in . Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60650721/30/6/navy-seal-1-v-austin/.
- Dolgin0, Elie. “The tangled history of mRNA vaccines.” January 23, 2018. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02483-w.
- Dolgin0, Elie. “The tangled history of mRNA vaccines.” January 23, 2018. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02483-w.
- Bartlett, Tom. “The Vaccine Scientist Spreading Vaccine Misinformation.” The Atlantic. August 12, 2021. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/08/robert-malone-vaccine-inventor-vaccine-skeptic/619734/.
- Bella, Timothy. “A vaccine scientist’s discredited claims have bolstered a movement of misinformation.” The Washington Post. January 24, 2022. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/01/24/robert-malone-vaccine-misinformation-rogan-mandates/.
- Bella, Timothy. “A vaccine scientist’s discredited claims have bolstered a movement of misinformation.” The Washington Post. January 24, 2022. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/01/24/robert-malone-vaccine-misinformation-rogan-mandates/.
- Jewers, Chris. “Twitter reinstates accounts for Dr Robert Malone and Dr Peter McCullough.” Daily Mail Online. December 13, 2022. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11532743/Twitter-reinstates-accounts-Dr-Robert-Malone-Dr-Peter-McCullough.html.
- Bella, Timothy. “A Vaccine Scientist’s Discredited Claims Have Bolstered a Movement of Misinformation.” The Washington Post. WP Company, January 25, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/01/24/robert-malone-vaccine-misinformation-rogan-mandates/.