A recent False Claims Act (FCA) settlement between Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc. (Dana-Farber) and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) further demonstrates the need for federally funded research institutions to have proper checks in place to ensure that they do not submit federal grant applications with materially false or misleading statements. As scrutiny of grant applications and grant-funded research papers increases, hospitals, universities and other research organizations should ensure that researchers and research integrity officers are aware of the FCA risks that could arise from potential misrepresentations in connection with federal grants. Such organizations should also recognize the importance of promptly investigating reported issues and taking swift action when problems are discovered, as Dana-Farber received credit from DOJ for its disclosure, cooperation and remediation efforts.
Dana-Farber is a leading cancer treatment and research center headquartered in Boston that receives grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), among other federal agencies. On December 16, 2025, DOJ announced that Dana-Farber agreed to pay $15 million to settle fraud allegations related to scientific research grants.1 In April 2024, a “research integrity sleuth”—someone who seeks to uncover flaws and fraud in research publishing—filed a qui tam action in the District of Massachusetts. After an investigation conducted by DOJ’s Civil Division and the U.S. Attorney...
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