2 cancer scientists had actually drawn criticism from Congress for speaking with

 

Two federal researchers who blazed a new course in proteomics, then drew censure from Congress for their consulting offers, are leaving the government for academic community. Lance Liotta of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Emanuel Petricoin of the Fda (FDA) will soon head a brand-new center at neighboring George Mason University (GMU).

A few years back, Liotta and Petricoin developed a new technique for spotting cancer by evaluating patterns of proteins discovered in blood. The method drew widespread attention (Science, 11 April 2003, 236) and led to a new NCI-FDA scientific proteomics program, although questions have recently been raised about its precision.

Liotta and Petricoin were called in the past a Congressional committee last May since they had actually spoken with for a competitor to a company they were working with through an NCI collaborative agreement (Science, 28 May 2004, p. 1222). The case was among several possible ethics problems including National Institutes of Health researchers that led NIH director Elias Zerhouni to provide a blanket ban on all consulting by NIH personnel last month (ScienceNOW 1 February, 2005).

According to an announcement today by GMU, Petricoin and Liotta will join the molecular medicine department at the university, a brand-new and fast-growing organization in northern Virginia. Liotta informed NCI associates in a 7 March e-mail that he has “been considerably fortunate” to work at NIH, however “might not pass up the amazing opportunity provided by GMU,” where he and Petricoin will co-direct a brand-new center for proteomics and molecular medication.