A former University of Queensland academic accused of fabricating research that claimed a breakthrough in treating Parkinson’s disease has been charged with fraud.
The Crime and Corruption Commission also alleges Dr Caroline Barwood, who co-authored two papers that were retracted from scientific journals on the advice of UQ, “dishonestly applied for grant funds”.
Barwood, 39, of Kuraby, was on Friday served with a notice to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on six charges including fraud, attempted fraud and general dishonesty in obtaining gain from or causing a loss to a commonwealth entity.
A statement from the CCC said the investigation remained ongoing and further charges were expected.
A 2011 paper Barwood co-wrote with lead author Dr Bruce Murdoch was retracted from the prestigious European Journal of Neurology after a UQ probe allegedly found no primary data.
Murdoch, the respected founder of UQ’s Centre for Neurogenic Communication Disorders Research, and Barwood both resigned from the university last year.
Barwood, who did not return a call from Guardian Australia, is due to front court on 6 November. Attempts to contact Murdoch were unsuccessful.
Comment was being sought from UQ.