Doctors fail to report income

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 8 (UPI) -- Three researchers at Harvard University in Massachusetts are suspected of failing to report a large portion of their income to the university, officials say.

Dr. Joseph Biederman, who is known around the world for his work in researching antipsychotic medicines for children, is accused of failing to report much of the $1.6 million he earned in consulting payments from drug companies, congressional investigators reported.

Biederman and Harvard colleague Dr. Timothy E. Wilens are suspected of violating government and university regulations, which are in place to monitor possible conflicts of interest, Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, said.

Biederman and Wilens were late reporting income of at least $1.6 million each from 2000 to 2007, while fellow Harvard employee, Dr. Thomas Spencer, said he received $1 million only after Grassley's investigators questioned him, The New York Times reported Sunday.

Biederman said he takes the conflict of interest rules "very seriously" and Wilens and Spencer have said they were under the impression they stayed in bounds of the policies.

The researchers are preparing for a review by a university conflict committee, Harvard spokeswoman Alyssa Kneller said.