Weill Medical College of Cornell University to Pay in Excess of $2.6 Millon to Settle Fraud Connected to Research Funding

Weill Medical College of Cornell University has agreed to pay $2,606,751 to resolve civil charges that the New York City-based college defrauded the government in connection with federal research funds awarded under grants made by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

A whistleblower, who filed a qui tam complaint under the False Claims Act, first brought the case to government’s attention.

Weill Medical College made false statements to the NIH and the Department of Defense (DOD) in connection with the school’s federal grant applications. In particular, the principal research investigator who sought funding for the grants failed to disclose to the government the full extent of her various active research projects, according to a March 6, 2009 press release by the U.S. Attorney Southern District of New York.

For the complete release, go to http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/March09/weillmedicalcollegesettlementpr.pdf.  For more information about the False Claims Act, contact Nolan and Auerbach, PA .

Tagged as: False Claims Act, federal research funds, qui tam, Research funding, whistleblower