Scientists with Chinese links may be stealing biomedical research: US

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and FBI in their investigations found that 24 out of 180 potential leakings of intellectual property were evidence of criminal activity most of which involve scientists of Chinese descent, including naturalized US citizens, allegedly stealing for China. The findings were based on 71 institutions, including many of the most prestigious medical schools in the United States who are investigating 180 individuals . for which the NIH reportedly sent 18,000 letters last year urging administrators who oversee government grants to be vigilant. The results indicate that China is exploiting the relative openness of the US scientific openness. As per reports, a scientist at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center was caught red-handed while leaking confidential research.

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In a misspelled email with mentions of bone and meat, the scientist attached a confidential research proposal, according to administrators at the center. He could possibly access such information because he was the one who was asked by NIH to review it. 

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Details of the leaked research

Scientific ideas, designs, devices, data, and methods may lead to profitable new treatments or diagnostic tools form the information or research that has been allegedly stolen. The NIH told the media that some of the accused researchers have obtained patents in China on work funded by the US government and owned by US institutions. Similarly, there are others who are suspected of setting up labs in China that secretly duplicated US research. Yet the NIH has refused to name the scientists at large. The investigations and allegations have led to resignation and dismissal of over a dozen scientists from universities and research centers across the United States so far. 

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Chinese researchers defend the allegations

Most of the scientists deny wrongdoing. any are accused of accepting funding from the Chinese government which is in violation of NIH rules. Many have claimed that they were unaware of such rules. A researcher terminated by Emory University in Atlanta in similar charges and is disputing it. Similarly, neuroscientist Li Xiao-Jiang claimed that the university dismissed him and neuroscientist Li Shihua, his wife and lab co-leader, simultaneously without any notice or opportunity for us to respond to unverified accusations. The scientists who worked at the university for 23 years lost their laboratory and websites. Four postdoctoral students working in the lab, who are Chinese nationals, have been told to leave the United States. Likewise, Feng Tao from the University of Kansas was indicted on four counts of fraud. He allegedly failed to disclose a full-time appointment at a Chinese university while receiving federal funds. As a result, Chinese researchers allege that the US is victimizing them deliberately.

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(With inputs from agencies)