[ad_1]
David Sabatini, MD, Ph.D., scientific founder of several biotechnologies, was kicked out of his lab after an investigation for sexual harassment. The senior scientist on cell signaling and cancer metabolism is “no longer associated” with either the Whitehead Institute or the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Sabatini is best known as one of the discoverers of mTOR. The discovery, which led Sabatini to refer on his own as mTORman, spurred research that established mTOR as a key regulator of growth in animals. Deregulation of protein kinase is linked to diseases like cancer and epilepsy. Medicines such as Afinitor from Novartis and Torisel from Pfizer inhibit mTOR.
Most recently, Sabatini helped found Navitor Pharmaceuticals, Raze Therapeutics and KSQ Therapeutics as a scientific founder. Biotechnology has built on Sabatini’s research in areas such as cellular nutrient signaling and cancer metabolism.
Ruth Lehmann, Ph.D., director of the Whitehead Institute, emailed staff on Friday to disclose the breakup with Sabatini. Lehmann, in an email later picked up by the Boston Globe and share on social media, said an investigation into Sabatini by a law firm found that the researcher “violated the Institute’s policies on sexual harassment among other unrelated Whitehead policies. research misconduct “.
The investigation was triggered by the results of a diversity, equity and inclusion survey which revealed “issues of particular concern in the Sabatini Lab”. Details of the specific allegations against Sabatini have not yet been released.
Sabatini’s release leaves the future of the 39 members of his lab in suspense. Whitehead’s human resources team, which employs 35 researchers, plan to hold one-on-one meetings with all team members this week to ensure their “smooth transition to another lab environment,” he said. Lehmann said.
The fate of ongoing laboratory research is also uncertain. Sabatini is listed as a principal investigator on six active projects funded by the National Institutes of Health that are collectively worth $ 2.4 million. The research covers areas such as cancer development and Alzheimer’s disease.
[ad_2]
Source link