The Ohio State University acknowledged a former researcher’s “inappropriate foreign affiliations” after deciding to pay $2.1 million. This settlement resolves federal allegations that the university did not reveal researchers’ connections to China while applying for and receiving taxpayer-funded research grants.
The Justice Department accused Ohio State of failing to disclose affiliations and financial ties with Chinese universities and state-run research entities in applications to NASA and the National Science Foundation from 2012 to 2023. Among the allegations was a principal investigator’s involvement in China’s Thousand Talents Program.
Ohio State conducted its own investigation into C.K. Shum’s foreign affiliations and reported the findings to federal authorities. Shum is no longer associated with the university. The university’s statement, shared with Fox News Digital, explained these actions.
“Ohio State uncovered and investigated C.K. Shum’s inappropriate foreign affiliations and self-reported them to NASA and the National Science Foundation,” stated Benjamin Johnson, chief communications officer at The Ohio State University.
The university revoked Shum’s principal investigator privileges, suspended spending on the affected federal awards, initiated disciplinary measures, and repaid the relevant federal funds. Ohio State has been in communication with federal authorities throughout the investigation process.
Ohio State maintains it values national security and prioritizes research integrity. The institution has implemented strong measures including compliance and security offices, mandatory conflict-of-interest disclosures, and foreign influence training programs.
A Department of Justice press release highlighted the requirement for Ohio State to disclose any foreign government ties in grant applications. It stated that these disclosures were supposed to cover collaborations or funding from the People’s Republic of China by Ohio State employees on NASA and NSF grants.
The press release added that since 2014, annual Faculty Activity Reports detailed affiliations with Chinese universities and state-run organizations. However, Ohio State did not share this information with NASA or the NSF. The university only notified these agencies in 2023 about a researcher involved in China’s Thousand Talents Program, even though they became aware of the involvement in 2019.
The Thousand Talents Program is described by the U.S. government as a Beijing-supported initiative to attract individuals skilled in overseas technology and intellectual property. The Department of Justice also discovered other Ohio State employees linked to these grants who had affiliations or funding from Chinese bodies.
Brett Shumate, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, stated, “American universities benefiting from federal research support must disclose all foreign funding in their grant applications.” He emphasized that the Justice Department would hold any universities accountable that fail to comply with these disclosure requirements.
Fox News Digital sought further comment from the Department of Justice regarding the matter.
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