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Science 29 April 2005:
Vol. 308. no. 5722, p. 613
DOI: 10.1126/science.308.5722.613b
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ScienceScope

Two congressional committees are looking into charges of sexual harassment at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The complaints arose after National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) staffer Jonathan Fishbein alleged that a landmark clinical trial, which found that the drug nevirapine can reduce mother-to-infant transmission of HIV, was seriously flawed.

An Institute of Medicine panel recently concluded that, although researchers failed to report some adverse events data, the NIAID-funded nevirapine trial was scientifically valid (Science, 15 April, p. 334). But the Senate finance committee is now following up on a complaint from Fishbein accusing a supervisor of sending profane e-mails, as well as recent depositions by two female NIAID staffers involved in monitoring the trial that allege inappropriate behavior by supervisors. The committee chair, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), has asked NIH for more information, citing Associated Press articles that first reported the depositions and evidence obtained by committee staff.

The matter is also under review by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Joe Barton (R-TX). An NIH spokesperson says the agency is conducting its own investigation as well.




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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)