Audit questions research funds

Marisa O’Neil

A cancer researcher may have misspent more than $2 million in grant

funds to pay for software development rather than cancer research,

according to a university audit released this week.

In January, auditors started investigating how Division of

Epidemiology chief Hoda Anton-Culver was using federal and state

grants for research. Their preliminary report from the college’s

Internal Audit Services, released Tuesday, found that about $2.3

million went to fund a software program similar to one the state

started using this month.

University officials issued a written statement Tuesday but would

not comment further on the audit.

“A review of the report reveals no indication that the funds in

question were spent for personal gain or for any purpose other than

advancing the research goals of the division and to help save and

prolong human lives,” the statement read.

Anton-Culver could not be reached at the school Wednesday.

In January 2001, Anton-Culver decided to develop a way to

integrate two computer systems, the report stated. The two systems --

the Cancer Registry Information System and Genetics Research

Information System -- organize cancer, genetics and research data.

The department paid an outside software developer to develop the

Cancer Genetic Research Information System. They spent more than $1

million on the project and more than $1 million on salaries for

support personnel, according to the report.

That system came online in August, the report said. The state

developed its own system, Eureka, and mandated this month that all

data must be input in that program, rendering the other program

largely unnecessary, the report said.

The audit followed complaints by six employees who said they were

let go because of “budget constraints.” They alleged that they were

laid off for reporting the mismanagement, according to the report.

Anton-Culver refused to cooperate with the investigation and

defied attempts by the university to rein her in after they

discovered the unauthorized software program, according to the

report.

Federal funds from the National Cancer Institute and state and

federal money from the Public Health Institute funded most of the

projects. Auditors reported the misuse to both agencies in May.

The report suggests that, in the future, others from the

department should co-sign purchase orders. It also suggests the

university hold a “Whistleblower Policy” training session and that it

refer the matter to the academic personnel department.

The funding agencies should decide if the money was used

improperly, the UCI statement read. The university will return any

money necessary, using its discretionary funds, the statement said.

The university supports Anton-Culver’s work, the statement said,

adding that it will take several months to address the issues in the

report.