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Center for Truth in Science

Center for Truth in Science

Background

The Center for Truth in Science is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the stated mission to commission “research projects conducted by independent scientists without political, cultural, technical, or ideological bias. The Center contributes to a healthy and balanced system in which judicial and regulatory decisions are based on objective, unbiased, sound, and comprehensive analyses of scientific evidence.”1“Our Mission,” Center for Truth in Science website. Archived April 26, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/5qo1e

According to its website:2“Our Mission,” Center for Truth in Science website. Archived April 26, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/5qo1e

“Founded in 2020, the Center for Truth in Science is an independent, non-profit organization with a vision of becoming a well-respected champion of fact-based science. The organization focuses on issues at the intersection of science, economics, and the judicial system, with the objective of contributing to a judicial system in which liability and damage awards are based on fact-based science. We will evaluate existing scientific studies and promote the objective and unbiased truth of scientific claims made by those participating in the American free enterprise and judicial systems.”

Focus on Cancer-causing Chemicals

As of April 2023, the Center for Trust in Science’s website listed the following “issue areas of focus“: ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, glyphosate, PFAS, and talc and talcum powder.

Ethylene Oxide

Regarding ethylene oxide, the group “seeks to determine if there is conclusive, consistent scientific evidence that demonstrates a link between exposure to ethylene oxide and the development of cancer or other chronic illnesses. The Center also seeks to examine the potential economic impact of government-imposed limits or bans on the use of ethylene oxide.”3“Ethylene Oxide,” Center for Truth in Science website. Archived April 26, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/jBwGl

According to the National Cancer Institute, “Lymphoma and leukemia are the cancers most frequently reported to be associated with occupational exposure to ethylene oxide. Stomach and breast cancers may also be associated with ethylene oxide exposure.”

Formaldehyde

On formaldehyde, “[T]he Center for Truth in Science seeks to determine from available high-quality studies if there is conclusive, consistent evidence that inhaled formaldehyde exposure causes leukemia, including myeloid leukemia and other LHP cancers. The Center has awarded a research grant to support a systematic review of current scientific literature to better understand this issue.”4“Formaldehyde,” Center for Truth in Science website. Archived April 26, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/yWIMo

According to the National Cancer Institute, “Studies of workers exposed to high levels of formaldehyde, such as industrial workers and embalmers, have found that formaldehyde causes myeloid leukemia and rare cancers, including cancers of the paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, and nasopharynx.”

Glyphosate

Regarding glyphosate, “[T]he Center for Truth in Science seeks to determine if there is conclusive, consistent scientific evidence that demonstrates a link between exposure to glyphosate and the development of cancer or other chronic illnesses. The Center also seeks to examine the potential economic impact of government-imposed limits or bans on the use of glyphosate.”5“Glyphosate,” Center for Truth in Science website. Archived April 26, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/8pc9Y

Glyphosate is the most commonly-used herbicide worldwide. Scientists have increasingly linked herbicides containing glyphosate as the active ingredient, such as Bayer’s Roundup (formerly owned by Monsanto), to endocrine disruption, birth defects, and the cancer non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in humans. It has been banned in at least 10 countries, restricted in more than a dozen others, and restricted or banned in several U.S. cities.”6Autumn Spanne. “Glyphosate, explained,” Environmental Health News, March 2, 2022. Archived April 27, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/DllcQ In July 2021, Bayer announced that as part of its “its five-point plan to address future Roundup litigation risk,” it would “replace its glyphosate-based products in the U.S. residential Lawn & Garden market with new formulations that rely on alternative active ingredients beginning in 2023, subject to a timely review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state counterparts.”(7Press Release). “Bayer Provides Update on Path to Closure of Roundup Litigation,” Bayer Global, July 29, 2021. Archived April 27, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Ll8KW#selection-1451.0-1451.63

PFAS

On PFAS, the group “seeks to determine if there is conclusive, consistent scientific evidence that demonstrates a link between exposure to PFAS and the development of cancer or other chronic illnesses. The Center also seeks to examine the potential economic impact of government-imposed limits or bans on the use of PFAS.”8“PFAS,” Center for Truth in Science website. Archived April 26, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/nKpf1

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, “Multiple health effects associated with PFAS exposure have been identified and are supported by different scientific studies.”

Talc and Talcum Powder

With talc and talcum powder, “the Center seeks to determine if there is conclusive, consistent scientific evidence that demonstrates a link between the use of talc and talcum powder-based products and the development of cancer or other chronic illnesses. The Center also seeks to examine the potential economic impact of government-imposed limits or bans on the use of talc and talcum powder-based products.”9“Talc and Talcum Powder,” Center for Truth in Science website. Archived April 26, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/lV2PT

According to the American Cancer Society, talc has been linked in some studies to lung and ovarian cancers. “When talking about whether talcum powder is linked to cancer, it is important to distinguish between talc that contains asbestos and talc that is asbestos-free. Talc that has asbestos is generally accepted as being able to cause cancer if it is inhaled. The evidence about asbestos-free talc is less clear.”

According to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records, the Center for Common Sense in Science submitted the trademark registration for “Center for Truth in Science” in March 2020. The application stated that the registration was “intended to cover the categories of promoting awareness of a healthy, fair, and balanced judicial system in which liability and damage awards are based on fact-based science; promoting awareness of the objective and unbiased truth of scientific claims made by those participating in the American free enterprise and judicial systems; conducting public policy research in the field of truthful scientific claims made by those participating in the American free enterprise and judicial systems.”10Application to trademark ‘Center for Truth in Science’ by the Center for Common Sense in Science, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Report Serial no. 88850045, Registration no. 6557079, filed March 27, 2020. Archive URL:  https://archive.vn/Q0Ls7

The address provided by the Center for Common Sense Science on the 2020 trademark application principal register matched the then-current Chicago, Illinois address of the Liberty Justice Center.11Trademark Application Details, ‘Center for Truth in Science’ by the Center for Common Sense in Science for ‘Center for Truth in Science, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Report Serial No. 88850045, Registration No. 6557079,12 Filing Date 03/27/2020. Archive URL:  https://archive.vn/Q0Ls7 13“Contact,” Liberty Justice Center. Archived September 9, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/X0FtC

The Liberty Justice Center is a conservative non-profit public interest law firm that “fights for the constitutional rights of American families, workers, advocates and entrepreneurs.”14“ABOUT US,” Liberty Justice Center. Archived September 9, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/i5kmy SourceWatch has noted that the Liberty Justice Center has ties to the State Policy Network, the Koch Brothers, and the Bradley Foundation.

The application also included the email address “[email protected]”—which belongs to the Illinois Policy Institute, a free-market think tank and member of the State Policy Network.15Principal Register of the Trademark/Service Mark Application by the Common Sense in Science for ‘Center for Truth in Science,’ U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Report Serial No. 88850045, Registration No. 6557079,16 Filing Date 03/27/2020. Accessed April 28, 2021. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

Principal register of the application to trademark ‘Center for Truth in Science,’ submitted by the Center for Common Sense in Science to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2020.

Stance on Climate Change

The Center for Truth in Science does not appear to have taken a position on climate change.

Center board chair Richard Williams appears to be the same Richard Williams who is a senior affiliated scholar at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, as well as former director of the center’s regulatory studies program, and former vice president of policy research.17“Richard A. Williams,” Mercatus Center. Archived April 27, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/wp2vV At The Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University, Williams is a senior affiliated scholar and the former director of the regulatory studies program.18“Richard A. Williams,” The Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University. Archived April 27, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/B6jUt As DeSmog and others have reported, both the Mercatus Center and the Center for Growth and Opportunity are bulwarks of the Koch Brothers’ influence in academia.

Center for Truth in Science board member David Randall is research director of the National Association of Scholars (NAS), as well as a policy advisor to the The Heartland Institute.19“DAVID RANDALL,” The Heartland Institute. Archived September 9, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/llAKn

At a 2019 meeting of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness (DDP), David Randall said, the “entire climate change crisis—and I’ll just use this very carefully—may well be a pyramid of irreproducible research. It would be a good idea to go back and have that discipline redone according to the proper standards.”20“The Irreproducibility Crisis of Modern Science: What Is To Be Done?” YouTube video uploaded by user “DDPmeetings.” Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

Center for Truth in Science board member Nathan Schactman was a presenter at a 2020 conference hosted by NAS, “Fixing Science,” which also featured many speakers affiliated with “groups known for anti-science efforts,” as well as “a few other speakers [who] have often worked in ‘product defense,'” as DeSmog reported at the time.

Stance on COVID

In a 2020 post about the COVID-19 pandemic, Center for Truth in Science President and CEO Joseph Annotti stated that:21Joseph Annotti. “COVID-19: Where Science, Litigation, and the Economy Intersect,” Center for Truth in Science. Archived September 9, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/CXOcq

“For many Americans, scientific evidence about the virus’s relatively mild impact on the vast majority of the population only fuels their desire to return to work, school, and community. They see the virus as a large risk for a small segment of the population and a small risk for the vast majority of us, and, while there is no foolproof way to reopen society, the benefits of returning to some sense of normality are far less risky than the  damage caused by prolonging economic shutdowns and social isolation.”

[…]

Consumer confidence and financial spending power are not the only threat to businesses small and large—the fear of being hit with lawsuits by employees and customers who may come down with the virus also exists. This fear is well justified: hundreds of lawsuits have already been filed with mass-litigation firms working furiously to recruit clients for additional suits and potential class action litigation.

“America is a litigation-friendly society and every consumer pays the price, not only for the lawsuits that go to court, but for the additional costs businesses incur to protect themselves from such litigation.
Scientific evidence, of course, will be at the heart of these cases.

[…]
This is all new territory for the judicial system, the scientific community, and the economy. The Center for Truth in Science will be keeping a close eye on these developments and will ensure that unbiased and objective facts are part of any conversations on the matter.”

Funding

The Center for Truth in Science does not publicly disclose funding information.

The Illinois Policy Institute, whose email address appeared on the Center for Common Sense in Science’s application to trademark “Center for Truth in Science,” has received over $2 million from the “dark money” groups Donors Capital Fund and DonorsTrust. Other notable funders of the Illinois Policy Institute have included the Mercer Family Foundation and the Charles Koch Institute. The relationship between the Center for Truth in Science and the Illinois Policy Institute is unclear.

Key People

Board

As of July 202322“Board,” Center for Truth in Science. Archived July 12, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/Cd8uO, the board members of the Center for Truth in Science are:

  • Richard Williams — Board chair. According to his online profile, Richard Williams “is retired from a 27-year career at the FDA where he was the Chief Social Scientist at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and retired from nine years as Vice President at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University where he continues as a Senior Affiliated Scholar. He is also affiliated with the Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University.”23“Dr. Richard Williams, Ph.D.,” Center for Truth in Science. Archived September 8, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/1pOXH
  • David Randall — Board secretary. Director of research at the Scaife-funded National Association of Scholars (NAS),24“National Association of Scholars,” Conservative Transparency. Accessed November 14, 2018. an organization that seeks to counter “liberal bias” in academia.25“Buying a Movement – Right-Wing Foundations and American Politics” (PDF), People for the American Way, September 11, 1996.
  • Joseph Annotti — Board treasurer. Former president and CEO of the Center for Truth in Science. According to his online profile, Annotti “spent thirty-five years leading trade and member association management in the commercial sector,” and “is widely known as an industry pioneer in strategic planning, political advocacy, coalition building, public policy development…media relations [and] public affairs.”26 “Board,” Center for Truth in Science. Archived September 8, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/1pOXH.27“Joseph Annotti,” Center for Truth in Science. Archived Aprill 26 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/Qaw4i
  • Marjana Martinic —Founder and CEO of MM Science & Policy Advisors, LLC28“Board,” Center for Truth in Science. Archived September 8, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/1pOXH
  • Nathan Schatman29“Board: Nathan Schatman, J.D.,” Center for Truth in Science. Archived July 12, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/EldZi
  • Ted Simon30“Board: Ted Simon, Ph.D.,” Center for Truth in Science. Archived July 12, 2023. Archive URL:https://archive.ph/wip/W68bM

Known former board members include:31“Board,” Center for Trust in Science. Archived August 17, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/72xn6

  • Tony Cox — President of Cox Associates, a “Denver-based applied operations research and analytics company specializing in data science and statistics applied to public and occupational health, safety, and environmental risk analysis.”32“Dr. Tony Cox,” Center for Truth in Science. Archived April 28, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/MGBnY
  • Ed King — Principal of King Economics Group and resident of Alaska, where he has provided “strategic insight, policy advice, and forecasts to the Alaska Governor and State Legislature on public policy.”33“Board,” Center for Truth in Science. Archived September 8, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/1pOXH
  • Keith Pauley — Founding president and CEO of MATRIC, which “conducts chemical research and development for clients all over the world.” From 2012 to 2013 he was “one of the highest-ranking foreign nationals in a government-owned company in Beijing, where he served as the Chief Technology Officer for China’s largest chemical company and member of the Fortune 500, ChemChina.”34“Board,” Center for Truth in Science. Archived September 8, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/1pOXH

Staff

Former Staff

Whitney Munro was the vice president of strategy at the Center for Truth in Science, according to a cached profile from the website AdvisoryCloud, which later listed the position as “nonprofit (confidential).”37“Whitney Munro: Center for Truth in Science – Vice President of Strategy,” AdvisoryCloud. Google cached version as of August 14, 2020. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.vn/9d1Dy On her LinkedIn profile, Munro has noted a position of vice president for strategy at an unidentified “confidential” organization from January 2020 to August 2021.38“Whitney Munro,” LinkedIn. Archived April 27, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ORsaX

As of April 2023, Whitney Munro is senior advisor and former chief operating officer at the Cicero Institute39“Whitney Munro,” LinkedIn. Archived April 27, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ORsaX , which describes itself as “a nonpartisan public policy organization with deep experience in government, legislation and the law, technology, and entrepreneurship. Together, we develop and fight for policies at the state level that restore liberty, accountability, and innovation in American governance.”40“About-Cicero Institute,” Cicero Institute. Archived April 27, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/nQYds

According to her LinkedIn profile, Munro was formerly vice president of communications at the Foundation of Government Accountability from 2016-2020, as well as at the Bill of Rights Institute from 2014-2016, and the director of campaigns and national grassroots director at FreedomWorks from 2012-2013.41“Whitney Munro,” LinkedIn. Archived April 27, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ORsaX

Greg George worked as a “freelance researcher” at the Center for Truth in Science from September-October 2020. According to his LinkedIn profiles, George was director of legislative affairs for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy from 2021-2022. Greg George was freelance researcher at the Philanthropy Roundtable from 2020-2021, as well as for the Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research in 2020, which has received funding in the past from the Donors Capital Fund and DonorsTrust. He was a senior research fellow at the Foundation for Government Accountability from 2018-2020, and a government affairs associate at Americans for Prosperity (AfP), a group founded by David Koch, from 2012-2013.42“Greg George,” LinkedIn. Accessed April 27, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wip/UvCyy

Actions

November 16, 2020

The Center for Truth in Science released a report titled “The Mass-Tort Machine: How law firms profit by suing businesses over questionable science”43“The Mass-Tort Machine: How law firms profit by suing businesses over questionable science” (PDF), Center for Truth in Science, November 16, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. About a week later, Angela Logomasini promoted the report in a post for the Competitive Enterprise Institute.44Angela Logomasini. “Consumers Pay the Price for Mass Torts Driven By Junk Science,” Competitive Enterprise Institute, November 23, 2020. Archived April 28, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/J9IWK

“The Center for Truth in Science has released an excellent report on mass torts and how unscrupulous lawyers use them to extort large settlements even though their claims are not founded in science,” Logomasini wrote. “While there may be legitimate mass torts, there are too many cases based on junk science, an observation I recently highlighted elsewhere.”45Angela Logomasini. “Consumers Pay the Price for Mass Torts Driven By Junk Science,” Competitive Enterprise Institute, November 23, 2020. Archived April 28, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/J9IWK

Logomasini, using an example, described science surrounding lawsuits relating to the damages of glyphosate as supposed “junk science.”46Angela Logomasini. “Consumers Pay the Price for Mass Torts Driven By Junk Science,” Competitive Enterprise Institute, November 23, 2020. Archived April 28, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/J9IWK

“The Center for Truth in Science report does not offer a solution on how to stop these junk-science based mass torts, but the organization is working to promote unbiased scientific research,” she concluded.47Angela Logomasini. “Consumers Pay the Price for Mass Torts Driven By Junk Science,” Competitive Enterprise Institute, November 23, 2020. Archived April 28, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/J9IWK

Contact & Address

300 S. Riverside Plaza
Suite 1625
Chicago, IL 60606
401-227-0586
[email protected]

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