Wednesday, June 19, scientists Jiangyu Zhu, a 30-year old Chinese citizen, and Kayoko Kimbara, a 32-year old Japanese citizen, were charged with stealing trade secrets from a laboratory at Harvard Medical School's department of cell biology. According to the federal complaint, the trade secrets included both biological materials and scientific documents relating to drug research that has the potential to help the body accept transplanted organs. Both scientists were working in the lab of Frank McKeon, a Harvard professor, when they made significant discoveries about several genes that offered a potential means of treating diseases affecting the cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems. The tools used for the drug research was developed with the help of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and American Cancer Society funds, and are also used to develop anti-rejection drugs and to study genes that regulate a potentially important enzyme.

According to the allegations, Mr. Zhu, who worked in the Harvard lab from February 1997 until December 1999, and Ms. Kimbara, who worked there from October 1998 until December 1999, secretly sent three of the newly discovered genes to a Japanese company (a violation of their employment agreements with Harvard). Once receiving the genes, the Japanese company then produced antibodies based on the information. The Japanese company has fully cooperated with the FBI and has returned all research data and products to Harvard. Consequently, both Zhu and Kimbara were arraigned in federal court on charges of conspiracy, theft of trade secrets, and interstate transportation of stolen property. For more information concerning this story, viewers may access the first three links listed above. For information on the American Cancer Society, the National Institutes of Health, and NIH grants and funding opportunities, viewers may access links four, five, and six, respectively.