Congressional

News and Events: Congressional

Congressional Hearings: NIH Ethics Concerns: Consulting Arrangements and Outside Awards

Correlogic’s CEO, Peter Levine testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on June 22, 2004.  His testimony was part of a series of hearings the Subcommittee conducted relating to conflicts of interest among National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists.

The Subcommittee focused on the conflict of interest of two government scientists doing research with Correlogic under a cooperative research program authorized by the Federal Technology Transfer Act. While Correlogic contributed its scientific expertise and paid royalties to the government for rights under its research program, the government scientists, it was revealed, were simultaneously moonlighting as paid consultants for a Correlogic competitor.

What happened to Correlogic became a catalyst for sweeping reforms instituted by NIH Director, Elias Zerhouni. In answer to a question from Rep. Joe Barton, Chairman of the full committee, about whether the Director knew about Correlogic, Dr. Zerhouni replied that what happened to Correlogic was the “tipping point for complete scrubbing, complete reform” of NIH. 

Follow the links below to read Peter Levine’s oral testimony and full written testimony:

The full transcript of the hearings is available from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce website. See May 19 and June 22.

Congressional Resolutions

In the spring of 2002, Rep. Steve Israel (NY) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT), introduced H. Con. Res. 385, a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the Department of Health and Human Services conduct and support research on Correlogic’s approach for ovarian cancer detection, and that Federal and private health insurers cover the tests if demonstrated to be effective. By July, 147 Members joined as cosponsors, and the resolution was approved by the full House of Representatives.

Senators Harry Reid (NV) and Maria Cantwell (WA) introduced the Senate version of the resolution, S. Con Res. 138, on September 9, 2002.

Other Congressional Activity

Peter Levine was invited to appear before the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology and Standards Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representative, Port Jefferson, New York, June 22, 2002. These field hearings examined the incidence of cancer on Long Island, NY and new cancer technology.