Targeting Scientists Targeting Scientists to protect government policies and industry practicesto protect government policies and industry practices

David L. Lewis, Ph.D., DirectorDavid L. Lewis, Ph.D., DirectorResearch Misconduct Project Research Misconduct Project

National Whistleblowers CenterNational Whistleblowers CenterWashington, DC 20007Washington, DC 20007

www.researchmisconduct.orgwww.researchmisconduct.org

To protect government policies and industry To protect government policies and industry practices …practices …

Federal agencies and corporations:

(1) Fund universities to publish research predetermined to support government policies and industry practices

(2) Disseminate false allegations of research misconduct against scientists who publish unwanted data (e.g. document adverse effects)

The Ecology of FearThe Ecology of FearThe fear effect of predators is more important than the number of prey taken; e.g., rodents vacate a field following an owl taking only a single mouse.1

By analogy: All it takes to clear a field of science is to devour one (highly visible) scientist.

1 “The effects of owl predation on the foraging behavior of heteromyid rodents.” Brown et al. Oecologia 1988

Targeting Scientists Targeting Scientists

Dr. Andrew WakefieldDr. Andrew WakefieldVaccinesVaccines

EPA Science Achievement Award 2000 EPA Science Achievement Award 2000 (Lewis (Lewis et alet al. . NatureNature 1999) 1999)

BiosolidsBiosolids

Documenting Cases (Biosolids)Documenting Cases (Biosolids)

Interactions of pathogens and irritant chemicals in land-Interactions of pathogens and irritant chemicals in land-applied sewage sludges (biosolids)applied sewage sludges (biosolids)

DL Lewis, DK Gattie, ME Novak, S Sanchez and C PumphreyDL Lewis, DK Gattie, ME Novak, S Sanchez and C Pumphrey

BMC Public Health. 2002 June;2:11

Parents, patients, physicians link biosolids to 48 casesParents, patients, physicians link biosolids to 48 cases of illness and death at 10 sitesof illness and death at 10 sites

Industry’s false allegations Industry’s false allegations (2001-2003)(2001-2003)

Lewis allegedly -Lewis allegedly -

• Had undisclosed conflicts of interest as an expert witness (i.e., committed ethics violations)• Had not obtained EPA approval for his the research (i.e., misused public funds)• Intentionally misrepresented the work of other researchers and the facts (i.e., committed research fraud)• Used faulty data, which were withdrawn• Based conclusions on unreliable/biased anecdotal reports• Included no controls in the study

Government-Industry WarningGovernment-Industry WarningIn 2002, the company’s VP for Government Relations, who met with EPA, warned a Texas County Commissioner:

“These people will find their work rightly discredited and their funding will disappear while credible researchers continue to have funding.”

EPA-UGA Study (2002) EPA-UGA Study (2002) Used byUsed by National Academy of Sciences to conclude “no National Academy of Sciences to conclude “no

documented cases”documented cases”

““Some individuals have questioned whether [EPA’s Some individuals have questioned whether [EPA’s biosolids] regulations are protective of the public and biosolids] regulations are protective of the public and the environment. This study puts some of those fears the environment. This study puts some of those fears to rest.”to rest.”11

11Lead author: Lead author: J. Gaskin, R. Brobst, W. Miller, and W. Tollner. 2003. Long-term biosolids application effects on metal concentrations in soil and bermudagrass forage. J. Environ. Qual. 32: 146-152.

EPA Termination (2003) EPA Termination (2003) Senior-level (GS-15) Research Microbiologist with 31 years; Senior-level (GS-15) Research Microbiologist with 31 years;

only EPA scientist to publish in only EPA scientist to publish in NatureNature, , LancetLancet

EPA Lab Director’s public statement:

“Dr. Lewis’ involuntary termination over his research articles was not supported by the local lab management in Athens. He was an excellent researcher and an asset to EPA science.”

University of Georgia University of Georgia

Reneged on hiring, banned from laboratories, terminated as Reneged on hiring, banned from laboratories, terminated as visiting scientistvisiting scientist

Sworn testimony of UGA director (2003):

“[I was told to] stay away from things that could end up biting us in the rear-end … because we're dependent on this money … grant and contract money … money either from possible future EPA grants or [from] connections there might be between the waste-disposal community [and] members of faculty at the university.”

Results of EPA’s investigations (2003)Results of EPA’s investigations (2003)

EPA Asst. General Counsel11:

“No one [at EPA] concluded there was merit to [the] allegations or that Dr. Lewis may have had a performance or ethics problem” … the allegations “are not the EPA’s view” … “to the best of EPA’s knowledge” there are “no facts to support” them.

Office of Research & Development22:

“[Based on Federal scientific misconduct policies] there is no basis to warrant investigation of Dr. Lewis for research misconduct.”

1Joint Stipulation, Lewis v. EPA, Case No. 2003-CAA-5, 2003-CAA-6. March 04, 20032[Memorandum] F. Stancil to R. Russo EPA-Athens, GA April 22, 2003

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia (2008)U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia (2008)EPA-UGA dEPA-UGA data “fabricated” and “invented”

Documenting Cases (Vaccines)Documenting Cases (Vaccines)

Lancet. 1998 Feb 28;351(9103):637-41.

Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children.

Wakefield AJ, Murch SH, Anthony A, Linnell J, Casson DM, Malik M, Berelowitz M, Dhillon AP, Thomson MA, Harvey P, Valentine A, Davies SE, Walker-Smith JA.

Parents, physicians link MMR vaccination to Parents, physicians link MMR vaccination to autism in eight patientsautism in eight patients

Deer’s Allegations – GMC FindingsDeer’s Allegations – GMC Findings (2004-2010)(2004-2010)

Committed ethics violations (e.g., no research approval or informed consent)

Misrepresented the work of other researchers Fabricated the diagnosis of colitis Had undisclosed conflicts of interest as an expert witness Misused public (Legal Aid Board) funds

Dr. Wakefield, Prof. John Walker-Smith allegedly:Dr. Wakefield, Prof. John Walker-Smith allegedly:

Wakefield’s filesWakefield’s files

British Medical Journal – Brian DeerBritish Medical Journal – Brian Deer

Deer to NWC Director (2011)Deer to NWC Director (2011)

Alleged Lewis:

Is working as an environmental microbiologist and has no qualifications in medicine relevant to the Lancet study

Was writing on the business of the University of Georgia and improperly exploiting a university email account, rather than using those he publishes at your website and elsewhere

Misled the GMC’s expert pediatric gastroenterologist, Professor Ian Booth, by claiming that a Nature reporter had prompted him to write.

Google “BMJ egregious misconduct”Google “BMJ egregious misconduct”

England’s High Court of Justice (2012)England’s High Court of Justice (2012)

Vaccine EpidemicVaccine Epidemic Habakus & Holland Habakus & Holland Skyhorse PublishingSkyhorse Publishing

(including document web page)(including document web page)

Fighting backFighting back

For federal agencies and corporations to successfully manipulate the science, they must:

(1) Heavily fund universities to publish research predetermined to support government policies and industry practices [Goal: “Most scientists agree that blah, blah, blah is safe.”]

(2) Completely destroy scientists who document adverse effects [Goal: “There are no documented cases of blah, blah, blah ever happening.”]

Dr. Andrew Wakefield has filed a defamation lawsuit in Travis County, Texas, District Court against the British Medical Journal (BMJ), Fiona Godlee, the journal's editor, and Brian Deer, a writer working for the BMJ.

www.DrWakefieldJusticeFund.orgwww.DrWakefieldJusticeFund.org