Celebrated researcher duped Academy of Finland for grants and violated ethics

Professor Tuomilehto did not ask patients for permission to take samples

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Professor Jaakko Tuomilehto, an Academy of Finland researcher, has given false information regarding his research projects in order to receive funding. Tuomilehto has also used samples from test patients for research projects other than the ones that the samples were originally meant for.
      Jaakko Tuomilehto has also sent samples to foreign universities without acquiring the appropriate authorisations. He has also been found to have deliberately caused delays to other researchers' work.
     
A National Public Health Institute investigation committee has probed into the working ethics of the internationally-prominent professor since January. Tuomilehto is known above all for his research into the origin of diabetes. He is the most-cited medical researcher in Finland.
      Tuomilehto's term as a research professor funded by the Academy of Finland ended in July. According to Academy board-member Professor Kalervo Väänänen, the recently-discovered wrongdoings were not the reason why Tuomilehto's professorship tenure with the Academy was not continued.
     
Tuomilehto has now returned to his post as the Professor of Public Health at the University of Helsinki.
      According to Vice Rector Marja Makarov, the University of Helsinki is not planning to respond to Tuomilehto's culpable conduct, as it is in no way connected with his work at the university.
      The National Public Health Institute and the Academy of Finland, in turn, expressed strong disapproval of Tuomilehto's actions.
      "We take pride in our reputation. This is a severe setback for the scientific community. We will revise our monitoring practices as a result of what has happened, to make sure similar conduct will not be possible in the future", says Pekka Puska, Director General of the National Public Health Institute.
      The investigation committee's report, running to more than 20 pages, reveals that Tuomilehto has contravened the rules of good research conduct and ethical norms in several ways.
      Among other things, Tuomilehto has cheated research grants out of the Academy by naming as research partners people who specifically turned down his projects. Tuomilehto has also "forgotten" to ask for permission from patients for sample-taking. Furthermore, he has expanded the scope of his research past the limits of the acquired permits.
     
According to the report, Tuomilehto has not gained financially from his conduct, and his actions have not undermined the reliability of the research carried out. Patient safety was not compromised, either.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Former leading neurology professor suspected of medical malpractice (13.6.2002)

Links:
  Academy of Finland
  National Public Health Institute
  Diabetes – an interview with Jaakko Tuomilehto

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