Spring Break
UConn Researcher Loses Funds
Jessica Silber
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: News
In a victory for animal rights activists, The University of Connecticut Health Center (UCHC) received a letter from the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Jan. 15 requiring that the laboratory of Dr. David Waitzman return part of federal grant money he received to perform experiments on Rhesus Monkeys.
The letter was the result of months of investigations into Waitzman's laboratory by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the NIH, after they were contacted by People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), who had obtained proof of numerous violations of the Animal Welfare Act, according to Justin Goodman, an associate for PETA and former UConn graduate student.
"In June 2007, the USDA levied a separate fine of $5,532 on Waitzman," said Goodman, "which addressed four violations, including those of a monkey being choked by a collar so hard that his eyes bled."
Other violations included inadequately trained staff, the usage of outdated drugs and food for the animals and keeping the animals in unclean conditions.
In addition to this fine, the NIH demanded repayment of $65,000 out of the $1.7 million in federal funds that Waitzman received to do his research. This amount addresses only the period in which the violations apparently occurred, according to Goodman.
Despite the infringements found in Waitzman's lab, UConn promoted him from associate professor to a full professor in October 2007.
"At the university level, nothing was done to hold him accountable for what he did," Goodman said. However, activists at PETA are requesting further penalty for the violations, specifically to bar Waitzman from receiving federal funds for future research.
"We're just asking the NIH to enforce laws that already exist - nothing extraordinary. Waitzman is applying for new grants, and we know the university won't prevent him," Goodman said.
However, the UCHC is still considering an appeal of the decision to return the funds.
"They're still looking out for other options," said Carolyn Pennington, a communications officer for the UCHC. "We definitely want to see more details of the violations - the letter the laboratory received had very little details."
The letter sent by the NIH to Waitzman's laboratory simply stated, "the Office of Animal Welfare investigated the noncompliance involving the use of nonhuman primates. Based on this investigation, OLAW has determined that funds need to be returned … for this period of noncompliance."
Even with the possibility of an appeal, the current victory for PETA is strong.
"We're taking whatever steps necessary to ensure this abuse won't happen again," Goodman said. "These experimenters should know that when you violate the law, these are the consequences."
Contact Jessica Silber at
Jessica.Silber@UConn.edu.
The letter was the result of months of investigations into Waitzman's laboratory by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the NIH, after they were contacted by People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), who had obtained proof of numerous violations of the Animal Welfare Act, according to Justin Goodman, an associate for PETA and former UConn graduate student.
"In June 2007, the USDA levied a separate fine of $5,532 on Waitzman," said Goodman, "which addressed four violations, including those of a monkey being choked by a collar so hard that his eyes bled."
Other violations included inadequately trained staff, the usage of outdated drugs and food for the animals and keeping the animals in unclean conditions.
In addition to this fine, the NIH demanded repayment of $65,000 out of the $1.7 million in federal funds that Waitzman received to do his research. This amount addresses only the period in which the violations apparently occurred, according to Goodman.
Despite the infringements found in Waitzman's lab, UConn promoted him from associate professor to a full professor in October 2007.
"At the university level, nothing was done to hold him accountable for what he did," Goodman said. However, activists at PETA are requesting further penalty for the violations, specifically to bar Waitzman from receiving federal funds for future research.
"We're just asking the NIH to enforce laws that already exist - nothing extraordinary. Waitzman is applying for new grants, and we know the university won't prevent him," Goodman said.
However, the UCHC is still considering an appeal of the decision to return the funds.
"They're still looking out for other options," said Carolyn Pennington, a communications officer for the UCHC. "We definitely want to see more details of the violations - the letter the laboratory received had very little details."
The letter sent by the NIH to Waitzman's laboratory simply stated, "the Office of Animal Welfare investigated the noncompliance involving the use of nonhuman primates. Based on this investigation, OLAW has determined that funds need to be returned … for this period of noncompliance."
Even with the possibility of an appeal, the current victory for PETA is strong.
"We're taking whatever steps necessary to ensure this abuse won't happen again," Goodman said. "These experimenters should know that when you violate the law, these are the consequences."
Contact Jessica Silber at
Jessica.Silber@UConn.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Paul Free
posted 1/31/08 @ 4:33 PM EST
HALELLUYAH !!!
Drug Treatment
posted 1/06/09 @ 9:16 AM EST
And that's the reason why so many great projects have been stop and the reason why we are still seeking a cure for some conditions. Why do they stop funding some essential projects?
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