NEWS
Dec 21, 2002University in Geneva on undisclosed tobacco money
In a press release from The Geneva University on December 20th, Affaire Rylander: l'Université de Genève tire ses conclusions, the University distances itself from the attitude of Professor Ragnar Rylander who concealed funding by Philip Morris from the ethical commission in charge of reviewing research protocols, and from an editor in chief of a scientific journal.
Earlier this year Karl-Erik Tallmo wrote a series of articles in Dagens Forskning, a Swedish magazine on news in science, about Ragnar Rylander [1-2]. In one of the articles Rylander stated that he has never been a consultant for Philip Morris. As was known since the tobacco archives went public, he then must have recieved 90.000 dollars yearly and 60.000 dollars yearly as unrestricted research grants, not to be a consultant. Just shortly after this statement Rylander's contract with Philip Morris from 1972 went public [3].
In Switzerland there has been an ongoing L'affair Rylander with accusations of scientific misconduct. Rylander went to court charging for calumniation. The first round was a success for Rylander on the case of calumniation. But it was not all victory.
However, the University of Geneva was not happy, and have looked into the files. Now they have come to a conclusion given in the press release. It is stated that Rylander had research funding undisclosed to the ethical commission in charge of reviewing research protocols, and to the editor in chief of a scientific journal. The University of Geneva now publicly distances itself from Prof. Rylander's attitude.
For more, and there is more, see comments and the press release in English translation from Switzerland.
The University of Geneva has chosen to deal with the issue publicly. Obviously they are concerned about scientific integrity, not only the rhetorical appearance.
Bo Walhjalt
Notes:
1. Two of Tallmo's articles are available in English. If you would like to read them in Swedish you will find the links here.
Karl-Erik Tallmo: Philip Morris assigned secret grants to Swedish professor2. Karl-Erik Tallmo: "Ragnar Rylander has willingly offered his services"
3. Philip Morris Incorporated; Rylander, R.; Wakeham, H. "Untitled Document 2081912524". 07 Dec 1972. Bates: 2081912524. On TDO: http://tobaccodocuments.org/pm/2081912524.html.
På Philip Morris dokumentarkiv ID: 2081912524
On Reality. Publisher and editor: Bo Walhjalt. ISSN 1650-9323.
© Bo Walhjalt and authors. | Comments on this page
Latest update Dec 21, 2002url of this page: http://www.gbg.bonet.se/bwf/eng/news/2002_12/swissTobMoney.html