The Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou Debarment Records HHS-OIG Couldn’t Find — and NIH Is Now Reviewing
Records obtained through Dr. Bradley Foerster's litigated Freedom of Information Act appeal against the U.S. Department of Justice documented a February 2019 meeting involving the FBI, HHS-OIG, and the University of Michigan Office of General Counsel (UM OGC).
According to the FBI's contemporaneous record, the U.S. Attorney's Office had declined criminal charges concerning the NIH ALS R01 grant investigation, while a federal debarment process involving Dr. Foerster and at least one other redacted individual was discussed.
Related Reporting: DOJ Releases Second FBI Production: FBI Closed Case, HHS Pursued Debarment
The FBI records included multiple references to the debarment process, including a February 21, 2019 FBI Electronic Communication stating:
Dr. Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou submitted targeted FOIA requests to HHS-OIG seeking records concerning proposed, contemplated, initiated, or completed debarment and related administrative actions involving either individual.
On July 2, 2026, HHS-OIG reported that it could locate no responsive documents concerning such actions involving Dr. Foerster or Dr. Petrou.
The FBI record therefore documented a debarment process involving Dr. Foerster and at least one other individual, while HHS-OIG later reported that it could locate no responsive debarment-related records concerning Dr. Foerster or Dr. Petrou.
Related Reporting: HHS-OIG Reports No Responsive Records Concerning the Ann Arbor Police Department "Nick" DVD and the Debarment Process
In a parallel effort to identify records concerning the debarment issue, Dr. Foerster submitted a targeted FOIA request to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) seeking records concerning suspension, debarment, exclusion, disqualification, grant restrictions, funding ineligibility, or related administrative actions involving Dr. Foerster.
NIH received FOIA Request 66155 on June 17, 2026.
On August 3, NIH acknowledged the request using conditional language:
At that point, NIH had not stated whether responsive documents had been located.
On August 20, Dr. Foerster followed up regarding the status of the request. NIH first stated that it needed additional time to “properly review the documents and make any necessary consultations.”
Following additional correspondence, NIH stated:
NIH estimated that it would take approximately another four weeks to complete the request.
The progression is significant: on August 3, NIH referred conditionally to documents “if” they were located; by August 20, NIH confirmed that it was reviewing documents for releasability.
What those documents establish remains unknown. The request encompasses debarment as well as other administrative and grant-related actions, and nothing in NIH's correspondence establishes that NIH initiated or pursued a debarment proceeding.
The record now presents three distinct points:
The FBI documented discussion of a debarment process involving Dr. Foerster and at least one other redacted individual during a meeting involving the FBI, HHS-OIG, and UM OGC.
HHS-OIG reported that it could locate no responsive debarment-related records concerning Dr. Foerster or Dr. Petrou.
NIH has now confirmed that it is reviewing documents responsive to Dr. Foerster's request concerning debarment and related federal funding actions.
What those NIH documents show remains to be seen.
Note: Dr. Myria Petrou received the same NIH correspondence concerning her parallel FOIA request. Those records are not reproduced here for conciseness.
Exhibit 1 — NIH Interim FOIA Response
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Exhibit 2 — NIH Correspondence Confirming Review of Responsive Documents
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Selected Reporting
- Bradley Foerster Submits 140-Exhibit, 1,121-Page Documentary Chronology to FBI for Supervisory Review of the Investigation Involving Dr. Bradley Foerster, Dr. Myria Petrou, and Duaa Altaee
- From One FBI File to a Legislative Proposal: Peter and Maria Foerster Ask Senator Van Hollen's Office and Congressman Jamie Raskin to Consider a Uniform Administrative Framework for Federal Investigations
- Eva Feldman Documentary Chronology: 139 Exhibits on NIH R01NS082304, University Proceedings, and Federal Investigation — No Response Received
- Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou Send Ann Arbor Officials Documentary Chronology on AAPD and Related Federal Investigations — No Response Received
- Timothy Lynch Documentary Chronology: 63 Exhibits on University of Michigan Office of General Counsel, University Investigations, and Law Enforcement — No Response Received
- Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou Documentary Chronology: 8 Exhibits Document More Than Two Years of Efforts to Trace Bank of Ann Arbor's $1.4 Million Sheriff's Sale Credit Bid — No Response Received
Brad Foerster, MD PhD
Brad Foerster is a FOIA advocate documenting requests, transparency disputes, and accountability investigations involving public agencies, universities, police oversight, and Russia-Gate related inquiries. His work compiles original documents, timelines, and analysis of public records and institutional responses. Brad is also a board-certified radiologist, author of Town & Gown, and has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles. Brad lives in Potomac, Maryland with his family and is a member of the Montgomery County Medical Society and the Takoma Park U.S. & World History Book Club.