Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott has requested the National Institute of Health (NIH) to investigate allegations of plagiarism and fraudulent research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. In a letter addressed to Monica M. Bertagnolli, M.D., Director of the NIH, Senator Scott expressed concerns about the potential waste of taxpayer money on research that does not meet the highest academic standards.

The allegations of misconduct involve researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, including Chief Executive Officer Laurie Glimcher and Chief Operating Officer William Hahn. These researchers, who are also faculty members at Harvard Medical School, have been accused of fabricating or manipulating data in their research papers. Senator Scott emphasized the importance of accountability in the use of taxpayer dollars, as both Dana-Farber and Harvard Medical School receive significant federal funding.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a designated National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Center, received approximately $173.7 million in funding from the NCI and $223.7 million from the NIH in 2023. Harvard Medical School, on the other hand, received $34 million from the NCI and $249.9 million from the NIH. These substantial amounts of federal funds make it crucial to ensure that the research conducted by these institutions maintains the highest standards of integrity.

Senator Scott also highlighted previous instances of research integrity issues at Harvard University. He mentioned cases of plagiarism involving former Harvard President Claudine Gay, tenured professor Charles Ogletree, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Sherri Charleston, and neuroscientist Khalid Shah. Furthermore, behavioral economist and tenured professor Dr. Francesca Gino was found guilty of research fraud in several papers.

Apart from concerns regarding research integrity, Senator Scott raised the issue of anti-Semitism on Harvard's campus. He criticized the university for its failure to address incidents where Jewish students were targeted due to their faith. Senator Scott emphasized that taxpayer dollars should not be allocated to institutions that tolerate hate and anti-Semitism.

In his letter, Senator Scott posed several questions to the NIH, urging the organization to take action and ensure the proper use of taxpayer funds. He requested information on the NIH's response to invalid research, whether the NIH has reviewed the questionable research at Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and if any NIH or NCI funds were used to support fraudulent research. Additionally, Senator Scott inquired about the extent to which research driven by manipulated papers received funding and whether the NIH has policies in place to prevent taxpayer dollars from going towards organizations that tolerate anti-Semitism.

Senator Rick Scott's letter to the NIH highlights the need for transparency and accountability in research institutions that receive federal funding. It underscores the importance of ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used to support research of the highest academic standards, free from plagiarism and fraud.