January 5, 2026
The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced a $15 million settlement with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The settlement resolves allegations that researchers affiliated with Dana-Farber submitted false and misleading information in connection with National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants. The resolution underscores the federal government’s focus on protecting the integrity of taxpayer-funded research. Moreover, the $2.625 award to the relator demonstrates the importance of whistleblowers in uncovering fraud.
According to the United States, from 2014 to 2024, Dana-Farber researchers used NIH grant funds to publish articles in scientific journals that contained misrepresented or duplicated images and data. This then led to the submission of false claims to NIH through false certifications of compliance with grant terms and conditions. The United States also cited allegedly misleading statements used to obtain grant funding.
More specifically, the United States alleged that researchers reused images in publications to represent different experimental conditions. For example, researchers allegedly presented the same image as reflecting different timepoints, different laboratory animals, or different tests. The researchers also purportedly modified images by rotating, magnifying, or stretching them. This made it appear as if the images were distinct data.
Dana-Farber admitted that research supported by six NIH grants resulted in fourteen publications containing such issues. In addition, another senior researcher received four NIH grants after submitting applications that cited a journal article without disclosing that certain images and data in the article were misrepresented or duplicated.
Dr. Shloto David initiated this case under the False Claims Act. Dr. David is a molecular biologist. He identified inaccurate and manipulated data in Dana-Farber researchers’ publications.
Before filing suit, Dr. David reported his findings to Dana-Farber’s Research Integrity Office, the authors of the publications, and the relevant journals. After filing his lawsuit, his complaint remained under seal for approximately 20 months while the Department of Justice investigated the allegations. Importantly, Dr. David was not a Dana-Farber insider. The government’s decision to pursue the case underscores that credible, well-documented information from external sources can play a decisive role in FCA enforcement.
Federal officials described the settlement as part of a broader effort to protect the integrity of NIH-funded research and to hold grant recipients accountable for how federal dollars are used. The case also illustrates how the False Claims Act extends beyond traditional billing fraud to address misconduct in federally funded research.
NIH has limited resources to support important research being conducted at institutions across the country. Today’s settlement demonstrates that the Department of Justice will pursue grantees that undermine the integrity of federal funding decisions by failing to use research funds appropriately or by failing to abide by grant awards’ terms and conditions.
Assistant Attorney General, DOJ’s Civil Division, Brett A. Shumate
As we detail on our website, there have been many successful grant fraud FCA cases over the years. Duke University, Harvard, and many other research institutions have been held accountable under this law.
Whistleblower Law Collaborative LLC, based in Boston, devotes its practice entirely to representing clients nationwide in bringing actions under the federal and state False Claims Acts and other whistleblower programs. If you are aware of the misuse of funding through manipulated research in connection with federal or state grants, contact us. We have expertise in navigating grant fraud cases, and a desire to help.