The University of Iowa has agreed to pay a federally-funded researcher, lab director and cardiologist $350,000 to resign — relinquishing his tenure rights and suspending “any internal proceedings” involving him.
Kaikobad Irani — who’s been with UI Health Care as a full professor for more than a decade and leads the university’s 4-year-old “Irani Lab” that bears his name — signed the July 18 settlement that compels him to resign no later than Aug. 31.
Earning $171,418 annually, according to a UI compensation update in March, the settlement agrees to pay him “his full salary and benefits through the separation date, as well as compensation for any incentive earned through the separation date.”
The settlement payment will be split $233,333.34 to Irani and $116,666.66 to attorneys.
“On the effective date of this agreement, the UI will suspend any internal proceedings regarding Dr. Irani that occurred prior to the effective date, but will keep interim measures in effect,” according to the settlement, which also committed the university to dismiss “review proceedings.”
“To the extent permissible under the law, the employee will cause all complaints, proceedings, or other investigations filed or otherwise initiated by the employee to be withdrawn,” according to the agreement, adding, “any not withdrawn shall be deemed dismissed as of the effective date of this agreement.”
Kaikobad Irani (University of Iowa)
The settlement releases the university, the state, the Board of Regents and its employees from any claims accusing them of breaking the law and “all claims referenced directly or indirectly in his attorney’s April 22, 2024 communication.”
The agreement doesn’t constitute an admission of wrongdoing by either side — the university or Irani — according to one of its stipulations. The agreement also doesn’t elaborate on the university’s review proceedings or content of the letter from Irani’s attorneys.
Another agreement spells out how the university will handle research projects and funding attached to Irani and his affiliation with the UI campus. That included a grant from the U.S. Office of Naval Research, which reports its mission as fostering and encouraging research tied to “the maintenance of future naval power and the preservation of national security.”
“In the event UI is required by the Office of Naval Research to provide grant payback in connection with research conducted by employee, UI agrees to fund such a payback,” according to an attachment to the settlement regarding Irani’s research practices.
“UI will inform the employee in writing of the outcome of the oversight review conducted by the Office of Naval Research Office of Inspector General,“ according to the attachment, which also lays out possible ”grant transfer“ options and subawards.
The discussion, specifically, centered on Irani’s involvement as one of multiple principal investigators in two grants and his involvement to a lesser degree in three others.
“Ultimate approval of any subaward is at the discretion of the funding agency for the two grants where employee currently serves as MPI,” according to the settlement. “If a subaward is approved, UI will cooperate with employee’s new institution to promptly complete the required agreements and all required steps to complete the subaward.”
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The university did not immediately provide more details about how many grants and how much research funding is connected with Irani, who touts affiliation with the university’s Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Free Radical and Radiation Biology Program, and Medical Scientist Training Program.
Earning his bachelor’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his medical degree from George Washington University, followed by residencies and fellowships at institutions like Temple University Hospital and John Hopkins Hospital, Irani directs a UI-based Irani Lab “of post-docs, junior faculty, technicians, and pre-docs with diverse skills and interests who work collectively as a team.”
“The lab culture nurtures scientific growth of trainees, encourages independent thought, values criticism and diversity of opinions, and thrives on members having the freedom to pursue novel hypotheses that can be tested within the limitations and expertise of the lab and its members,” according to the lab’s website. “Trainees are expected to take, and granted, full ownership of their projects.”
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Kaikobad Irani — who’s been with UI Health Care as a full professor for more than a decade and leads the university’s 4-year-old “Irani Lab” that bears his name — signed the July 18 settlement that compels him to resign no later than Aug. 31.
Earning $171,418 annually, according to a UI compensation update in March, the settlement agrees to pay him “his full salary and benefits through the separation date, as well as compensation for any incentive earned through the separation date.”
The settlement payment will be split $233,333.34 to Irani and $116,666.66 to attorneys.
“On the effective date of this agreement, the UI will suspend any internal proceedings regarding Dr. Irani that occurred prior to the effective date, but will keep interim measures in effect,” according to the settlement, which also committed the university to dismiss “review proceedings.”
“To the extent permissible under the law, the employee will cause all complaints, proceedings, or other investigations filed or otherwise initiated by the employee to be withdrawn,” according to the agreement, adding, “any not withdrawn shall be deemed dismissed as of the effective date of this agreement.”
The settlement releases the university, the state, the Board of Regents and its employees from any claims accusing them of breaking the law and “all claims referenced directly or indirectly in his attorney’s April 22, 2024 communication.”
The agreement doesn’t constitute an admission of wrongdoing by either side — the university or Irani — according to one of its stipulations. The agreement also doesn’t elaborate on the university’s review proceedings or content of the letter from Irani’s attorneys.
Another agreement spells out how the university will handle research projects and funding attached to Irani and his affiliation with the UI campus. That included a grant from the U.S. Office of Naval Research, which reports its mission as fostering and encouraging research tied to “the maintenance of future naval power and the preservation of national security.”
“In the event UI is required by the Office of Naval Research to provide grant payback in connection with research conducted by employee, UI agrees to fund such a payback,” according to an attachment to the settlement regarding Irani’s research practices.
“UI will inform the employee in writing of the outcome of the oversight review conducted by the Office of Naval Research Office of Inspector General,“ according to the attachment, which also lays out possible ”grant transfer“ options and subawards.
The discussion, specifically, centered on Irani’s involvement as one of multiple principal investigators in two grants and his involvement to a lesser degree in three others.
“Ultimate approval of any subaward is at the discretion of the funding agency for the two grants where employee currently serves as MPI,” according to the settlement. “If a subaward is approved, UI will cooperate with employee’s new institution to promptly complete the required agreements and all required steps to complete the subaward.”
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The university did not immediately provide more details about how many grants and how much research funding is connected with Irani, who touts affiliation with the university’s Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Free Radical and Radiation Biology Program, and Medical Scientist Training Program.
Earning his bachelor’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his medical degree from George Washington University, followed by residencies and fellowships at institutions like Temple University Hospital and John Hopkins Hospital, Irani directs a UI-based Irani Lab “of post-docs, junior faculty, technicians, and pre-docs with diverse skills and interests who work collectively as a team.”
“The lab culture nurtures scientific growth of trainees, encourages independent thought, values criticism and diversity of opinions, and thrives on members having the freedom to pursue novel hypotheses that can be tested within the limitations and expertise of the lab and its members,” according to the lab’s website. “Trainees are expected to take, and granted, full ownership of their projects.”
University of Iowa settles with tenured, federally-funded research professor
The University of Iowa has agreed to pay a federally-funded researcher and cardiologist with tenure $350,000 to resign -- relinquishing his tenure rights and suspending “any internal proceedings” involving him.
www.thegazette.com
