Chinese Grants Net $5.5 Million Penalty for Research Institute

Grants from the Chinese government that NIH-funded scientists failed to disclose will cost their research institution $5.5 million as part of a settlement with the Justice Department.

The settlement, announced Dec. 19, resolves allegations the Van Andel Research Institute, a biomedical research institution in Grand Rapids, Mich., violated the False Claims Act.

The agreement comes amid growing concerns about researchers who are stealing U.S.-funded ideas. Michael S. Lauer, deputy director of the National Institute of Health’s extramural research program, said the problem has gotten worse over the past six months. The agency has investigated 140 scientists at 70 institutions over ...