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UPDATE: VA RESEARCHER / WHISTLEBLOWER REBUTS
VAOIG REPORT ON AUSTIN BRAIN RESEARCH -- Dr.
Robert
Van Boven: "The OIG did not address the
scientific merits of
highly questionable research and therefore cannot
rightfully
claim that funding and support of the research
was appropriate."
Dr. Robert van Boven
(photo: Laura Skelding, AMERICAN-STATESMAN)
Dr. Robert Van Boven, a VA researcher in Austin,
Texas, blew the whistle on mismanagement of a traumatic brain injury (TBI)
research program. That story here ...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfF
EB08/nf021208-3.htm
The VAOIG investigated. That story here ...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/n
fAUG08/nf080508-3.htm
Dr. Van Boven does not like the VAOIG's
conclusions and has provided VA Watchdog dot Org with a rebuttal to their
report.
For all stories about this research project, use
the VA Watchdog search engine ... click here ...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessear
ch.php?q=boven&op=and
Dr. Van Boven's statement came to me by email and
is posted below:
-------------------------
Re: August 3 Austin American Statesman
article "VA Investigators find some waste at UT-based project."
Over 1.2 million dollars was spent over 1 1/2 years by Central Texas VA (CTVHCS)
without any publish-worthy results. The OIG "found no written evidence
that CTVHCS leadership requested an accounting of expenditures....letter
or otherwise investigated the appropriateness of [these] expenditures."
Thus, CTVHCS did not merely "move too slowly" but did not move at all.
Regarding excessive billing and plagiarism by an outside contractor...the
Office of Inspector General (OIG) indicates the VA failed to have a
contract with a contractor so fraud could neither be substantiated nor
refuted. This contractor collected over $100,000 over 9 mos., worked
on-site one day per week, committed plagiarism and no publish-worthy work
resulted.
The OIG did not address the scientific
merits of highly questionable research and therefore cannot rightfully
claim that funding and support of the research was appropriate. Five
outside experts all planned a wasteful project and other evidence also
implicates cronyism behind funding of $200,000 of taxpayer dollars on work
by an untrained investigator. "Long-standing interest" and "distinguished"
administrative/medical career does not confer research competence as it
would not confer competence in performing surgery! Moreover, note that the
OIG reported that the Principle investigator (PI) admitted that "he did
not collect data or maintain PI files on the study participants." Hence,
independent of the lack of scientific merit of the research, the OIG
recognized that "failure to collect data or maintain individual case files
could interfere with the ability of the study to contribute to
generalizeable knowledge, which is the definition of research."
The TBI research program was suspended
as a result of my disclosing safety and other violations. The research
efforts to generate new treatment for wounded heroes and civilians alike
with TBI have been shattered. Over 4 million dollars committed to the TBI
research project by signature of the Central Texas Director has been
reneged upon and this is a disservice to veterans.
R. W. Van Boven, M.D., D.D.S.
-------------------------
posted by Larry
Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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