Institute to Pay $5.5M for Not Disclosing Chinese Grants

Institute to Pay $5.5M for Not Disclosing Chinese Grants
A "Department of Justice" sign is seen on the wall of the US Department of Justice building in Washington, DC on April 18, 2019. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images
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WASHINGTON—A Michigan research institute accused of failing to disclose Chinese government grants received by two of its researchers has reached a $5.5 million settlement, the Justice Department announced on Dec. 19.

Federal officials said the Van Andel Research Institute, of Grand Rapids, acted with “deliberate ignorance or reckless disregard” when it applied to the U.S. government for grants on the scientists’ behalf without also acknowledging that the researchers had been receiving funding from China.