Fed: NHMRC may probe claims over UNSW researcher

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Fed: NHMRC may probe claims over UNSW researcher

By Sandra O'Malley

CANBERRA, April 25 AAP - The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) mayinvestigate whether grant money was misused by a leading University of NSW (UNSW) researcherembroiled in scientific fraud allegations.

The NHMRC, which last year invested $360 million in health and medical research inAustralia, said it took complaints relating to scientific misconduct and the proper managementof grant funds extremely seriously.

"Such allegations have the potential to damage the reputation of Australian scienceand its research institutions," said Suzanne Northcott, executive head of the NHMRC Centrefor Research Management.

The NHMRC has the right to suspend or terminate grants, as well as audit their expenditure.

UNSW professor and medical researcher Bruce Hall was the subject of complaints by colleaguesthat he had inappropriately diverted grant money to his wife, fellow researcher Dr SuzanneHodgkinson.

An internal UNSW investigation cleared Prof Hall of allegations of scientific fraudand misconduct, including wrongly diverting money to his wife.

It also said there was no evidence of fund mismanagement.

However it found he had made errors in some of his abstracts and it reported communicationdifficulties regarding grant management.

Prof Hall, 54, is now to be the subject of another, external, inquiry.

Ms Northcott said the NHMRC was not satisfied that the university report had addressedall its concerns and it now wanted all reports relevant to the internal university investigation.

"We've waited for the university report ... but we still think there are a number ofquestions that remain unanswered," Ms Northcott told AAP.

"These instances are extremely rare, but extremely serious, we would want to know whetherthe allegations are true and to make sure our processes are robust enough to ensure thatthey don't occur."

The NHMRC was also considering whether it would launch its own investigation into theuse of the grant money, she said.

The NHRMC has also requested advice on the membership, scope and timetable of an independentexternal inquiry, flagged when the UNSW released its internal report last week.

UNSW vice-chancellor John Niland today announced Sir Gustav Nossal, a former Australianof the year, would be part of a selection panel to decide the membership of the independentinquiry.

Sir Gustav will be joined by Professor Niland and UNSW chancellor John Yu.

"The inquiry will be asked to address any issues of scientific misconduct and scientificfraud it considers unresolved from the UNSW investigation," Prof Niland said in a statement.

"I have had preliminary discussions with Sir Gustav and Dr Yu and am seeking advicefrom prominent medical researchers internationally, both as to process and possible membersfor the inquiry."

NHMRC chairman Nick Saunders would be invited to assist the panel.

A UNSW spokeswoman told AAP the university had intended to make the announcement onthe selection panel before it became aware of the request from the NHMRC.

"The university sees the involvement of the NHMRC as extremely important," she said.

"The university itself froze the NHMRC grant to Professor Hall once it was aware ofconcerns and reported the matter to the NHMRC.

"It has already provided a body of material to the NHMRC and indicated ... that wewould provide all reports that the NHMRC may wish to see."

The university expects to announce the membership and draft terms of reference forthe inquiry soon after May 27.

AAP so/jmd/sp/sb

KEYWORD: HALL NIGHTLEAD