Concussion Doc's Plagiarism Scandal; American Scientist Worked on CRISPR Babies?

Welcome to the latest edition of Investigative Roundup, highlighting some of the best investigative reporting on healthcare each week.

Concussion Doctor's Plagiarism Scandal

A plagiarism scandal that saw prominent researcher Paul McCrory, MBBS, PhD, resign from the Concussion in Sport Group earlier this month has prompted many scientists to call into question his relationships with sports leagues he advised, the New York Times reported.

Though McCrory has denied "intentionally lifting copy without credit," he faces multiple allegations, including those he plagiarized other scientists in articles for a medical journal he edited, the Times reported. And his status as a preeminent concussion researcher is under attack.

"It's concerning because he's taken the lead on writing a consensus statement that is so influential, and we should have access to his insights," Kathleen Bachynski, PhD, who teaches public health at Muhlenberg College and has written about head trauma in sports, told the Times. "McCrory's research agenda and published statements and work as an expert witness come from a point of view of minimizing [chronic traumatic encephalopathy]."

The Times reported that some say allegations of plagiarism against McCrory may force sports leagues and organizations to reconsider guidelines he and other experts from the Concussions in Sport Group established.

"Overhauling the concussion group, though, will be hard because from the start it has been supported by organizations that see head trauma as an existential threat," the Times wrote.

However, some members see a chance for change, the Times reported, including for the group to become more transparent about potential conflicts of interest. Change could also extend to incorporating views from neuropathologists, public health specialists and epidemiologists, "that better reflect the science of CTE," the Times reported.

American Scientist Worked on CRISPR Babies?

Though much remains unknown about the world's first CRISPR babies more than 3 years after the now-infamous Chinese scientist He Jiankui claimed to have created them, "an equally enduring mystery" swirls around American researcher Michael Deem, PhD, STAT reported.

Deem appeared to be He's closest collaborator outside of China, STAT reported, but the full extent of Deem's involvement in the CRISPR baby experiment remains a secret. That's in part because Deem's former employer, Rice University, and Deem himself, have made efforts to conceal his role in "one of the most controversial chapters in modern medical history," STAT wrote.

However, STAT reported that it has learned that Deem may have been involved "more extensively than has previously been reported." He regularly received data about research subjects during the clinical trial in 2017 and 2018, according to STAT. And that included sequence data of DNA pulled from the cells of the gene-edited children, STAT reported, citing a source with knowledge of the project.

Through his lawyers, Deem denied reviewing genetic data during the research process, STAT noted.

STAT also reported that, based on documents obtained through records requests and interviews with current and former faculty and students, it learned that Deem "quietly left Rice" midway through 2020, after the university initiated an ethics investigation into his involvement in the CRISPR babies scandal.

Documents further show that Deem was the subject of a federal research misconduct probe, STAT reported.

Deem declined to be interviewed by STAT for the story, and the outlet reported that he did not respond to detailed questions sent via email. His lawyers told STAT that they stand by prior statements that Deem "has not designed, carried out, or executed studies or experiments related to CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing.

St. Jude's Battles Deceased Donors' Families in Court

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has cultivated "what may be the most successful charitable bequest program in the country," but potentially at great legal expense, ProPublica reported.

Specialized fundraisers focus on building relationships with potential donors to make sure their money flows to St Jude's after their deaths, ProPublica reported. And bequests have totaled $1.5 billion, or 20%, of the $7.5 billion the hospital raised in the most recent 5-year period of reported financial results.

"While a financial boon to St. Jude, the hospital's pursuit has led to fraught disputes with donors' family members and allegations that it goes too far in its quest for bequests," ProPublica wrote.

That has included years-long court battles, ProPublica reported.

"At the end of it, there is very little to hold on to feel good about," Vance Lanier, of Lafayette, Louisiana, who won a years-long legal battle with St. Jude over his father's estate, told ProPublica. "Think of all the fees for lawyers that didn't go to St. Jude, not one child, not one cancer patient," Lanier added. "Where is the sanity in all this?"

In a statement issued through its fundraising arm, the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), St. Jude told ProPublica that its bequest program "operates with the highest ethical standards and with bequest program best practices like other large charities."

However, ALSAC declined to answer ProPublica's specific questions about its bequest program, such as how many cases are in litigation. The fundraising arm also did not respond in detail to questions about individual cases in which it has contested wills, ProPublica reported.

A prior investigation by ProPublica found that while St. Jude promises families will never receive a bill, many still face serious financial burdens.

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