PHOENIX: Last May, noted Alzheimer’s researcher Paul Aisen announced he was leaving his position at the University of California, San Diego, after eight years. Some 30 colleagues followed him to regional rival University of Southern California.
In July, the University of California’s board sued Dr. Aisen — and 11 of his colleagues and USC.
Caught in the crossfire of the legal dispute is the Alzheimer’s Disease Collaborative Study, a multi-million dollar research effort to test new drugs, formed between the University of California, San Diego and the National Institute on Aging, a federal agency, and partly funded by corporate grants from companies like Eli Lilly & Co. Neither the companies nor the NIH are named as defendants.
UCSD alleges that Dr. Aisen broke his commitment to the university by trying to move control of the Alzheimer’s research program, study data and research grants to USC. The University of California’s board is seeking access to the research data, monetary compensation for the loss of contracts and other costs, and punitive damages from Dr. Aisen, some of his staffers and USC…