University of Washington Investigating Ellenbogen, NFL and COI

I'm late to this, but it is worth noting. Last month the University of Washington announced that it was investigating Richard Ellenbogen, co-chairman of the NFL’s Head, Neck and Spine Committee and chairman of UW’s Department of Neurological Surgery, according to the Seattle Times:

The University of Washington has formed a special committee to investigate claims made in a congressional report that Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, chairman of UW’s Department of Neurological Surgery, tried to influence a major research study on football and brain injuries.

Ellenbogen also serves as chairman of the NFL’s Head, Neck and Spine Committee, and Congress named him one of the NFL’s “primary advocates” in an effort to strip a $16 million grant from a Boston University researcher who had been critical of the NFL, according to ESPN.

Ellenbogen had been part of a different group that made a failed bid for the $16 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, according to the congressional report.

“Dr. Ellenbogen is a primary example of the conflicts of interest between his role as a researcher and his role as an NFL advisor,” the report read.

I discussed this situation back in May. The only thing really surprising about this case is that it took so long for the university to look into it. Lots of money at issue here, and UW is not without its own conflicts.

Stay tuned.