David Sabatini, MD, Ph.D., scientific founder of several biotechnologies, has been kicked out of his lab after a sexual harassment investigation. The scientist of cell signaling and high-profile cancer metabolism “is no longer associated” with either the Whitehead Institute or the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Sabatini is best known as one of the discoverers of mTOR. The discovery, which led to Sabatini see for himself as an mTORman, he stimulated research that established mTOR as a key regulator of growth in animals. Dysregulation of protein kinase is related to diseases such as cancer and epilepsy. Drugs like Novartis Afinitor and Pfizer Torisel inhibit mTOR.
More recently, Sabatini has helped create Navitor Pharmaceuticals, Raze Therapeutics and KSQ Therapeutics as a scientific founder. Biotechnologies are based on Sabatini’s research in areas such as cellular nutrient signaling and cancer metabolism.
Ruth Lehmann, Ph.D., director of the Whitehead Institute, emailed staff Friday to disclose the division with Sabatini. Lehmann, in an email later collected by the Boston Globe and shared on social media, he said an investigation into Sabatini by a law firm found that the investigator “violated the Institute’s sexual harassment policies among other Whitehead policies that were unrelated to misconduct.” of research “.
The investigation was triggered by the results of a survey on diversity, equity and inclusion that revealed “issues of particular concern to the Sabatini laboratory.” Details of the specific allegations against Sabatini have not yet emerged.
Sabatini’s departure leaves in the air the future of the 39 members of his laboratory. The Whitehead human resources team, which employs 35 researchers, plans to hold individual meetings with all team members this week with the goal of ensuring their “smooth transition to another lab environment.” said Lehmann.
The fate of the ongoing research in the laboratory is also uncertain. Sabatini is listed as the principal investigator of six active projects funded by the National Institutes of Health that have a collective value of $ 2.4 million. The research covers areas such as the development of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.