A medical science research council will investigate allegations that WSU officials suppressed medical science in its bid to win federal money for a new research center, the university announced Monday.
The Council of Higher Education Administrators is expected to issue its report by June 18, according to a release from the university, which announced the investigation.
WSU’s top university policy adviser, Dr. Lisa Anderson, said the council is working with the university’s Office of the Vice Provost for Human Resources, which oversees the medical sciences program, to review the allegations.WSU’s Office for Human Rights and Equal Opportunity, which investigates complaints against University of Washington students and employees, said in a statement that it is also investigating the allegations, which it said are “deeply troubling.”
“We are working with WSU to determine how we can better protect our students and campus from discrimination and misconduct,” it said.
“We are not going to let this happen again.”
Anderson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In addition to the medical science program, WSU has two other centers of research focused on human genetics, microbiology and environmental sciences.
WUSC is also a partner in the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
The WSU-led Center for Environmental Health and Human Genetics (CEHG) is investigating whether WSU mismanaged its Environmental Health Research Center, a research center funded by the Department of Homeland Security and funded by a federal grant.
In its response to the Office of Human Rights, WUSCC said it would be working with CEHG to address the concerns of its staff members.
The Office of Health Sciences is investigating allegations that University of Idaho faculty members used medical science data to promote the controversial “cure” for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a condition that affects up to 1 in 1,000 people, while not complying with state and federal guidelines.
The University of Wyoming is also reviewing allegations that the school failed to protect its faculty members from allegations of sexual misconduct.
The school announced in March that it had terminated a former assistant professor who was accused of sexual assault and harassment.
The university also said it had fired a former student, who said she was the victim of a rape.
The university also announced in April that it has been investigating the hiring of an associate professor, who was charged in the 2016 sexual assault of a student.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
