April 17, 2011

Thorsen's NANEA, the Enron of Research Facilities?

This article from Information.dk is a rough translation, but you can get the gist of it. Poul Thorsen managed his North Atlantic Neuro-Epidemiology Alliances in the vein of The Smartest Guys in the Room and pulled an Inside Job.

"One trait separates Nanea from the rest of the university, and it springs to mind immediately. In the first year employees live in a world of glitz and pampering. "We are running in a huge Mercedes!" Is the watchword, and it is true. Every time a scientist travels into the country to collect data, place the trip on business class, "says Anja. Lisa says that the Danes are visiting Atlanta, where they duperes when a limousine rolls up in front of the hotel door to take them to meetings with the CDC . Delicious dinners, liquor with expensive labels and staying at luxurious get-aways as Denmark's castles are on the program when the traffic goes the other way and the money men from the USA visiting Denmark.

While keeping the group together in a rare degree. Nanea celebrations. Summer festivals, winter festivals, Christmas celebrations, there is always a reason, otherwise there seminars. Anja call them energy meetings. Toke and Lisa remembers their formal name, off-site. Here take employees away a few days. They go in groups and make presentations where they share their work with each other. But first and foremost share the vision of Nanea."

Remember, this is all money that is supposed to be serving the needs of our children. While you were awake with your child until 4 in the morning while he writhed in pain, Thorsen, his team and CDC employees were living the high life on your tax dollars. You got robbed twice.

I have already heard vaccine injury denialists claiming that this was just a money problem, but that the research that has come out of this was solid. We knew it was junk when it came out. But let's pretend we had not already read it and knew that it was junk. Where in the world have you ever seen this kind of fraud going on, and the product or service that said criminals were selling NOT be junk. You have seen The Smartest Guys in the Room and Inside Job, right? Would this not be the first time in history that massive financial fraud was taking place and the products being sold were actually serving the population that was supposed to be being served?

Do you, for one minute, knowing that Thorsen was all about the money and glory, and knowing that he cared so little about integrity or ethics, think that he would even consider producing a study that implicated vaccines in autism? He would never hear from CDC again and the money train would stop running.

The vaccine program is so damn corrupt... the corruption is busing out everywhere and it is astonishing to me that CDC et. al. have had so many chances to save face and pull a, "well in light of recent events we need to re-evaluate the relationship between vaccines and autism...." and back out of this cascading disaster... but no. They still trudge on. Destroying the faith between doctors and patients, between government and citizens, between pharma and customers, between us and them... When will it end? How bad will they let things get?

How many children have to be injured and killed to serve their egos and their bottom lines?

This crap with Thorsen goes back a DECADE! Are we supposed to deal with another decade of this?

Will DOJ actually investigate this and unravel this whole mess or will it do as little as possible and sweep the rest under the rug?

There has to be an earnest man out there somewhere who will stop this madness. Someone who will say, "Enough. It is time to clean up the mess and start over."

Where is our Eliot Ness?

As the agitators came to the University
Research Nanea should have been the world best. Today, the slogans died, the group is dissolved, and the head of it all stung by the U.S. dogged by suspicions of fraud for millions. And funkisvillaen that housed the dream, stands empty and deserted


Abandoned. A little clutter in an abandoned villa in Aarhus West is the last physical remnants that remain of what was to be the world's best research Photo: Sigrid Nygaard

By: SANNE MAJA FUNCH
12. March 2010 | Information.dk

"I am ready to kill to get there."


Enlarge
The phrase strikes a nerve in Anja when she hears his boss tell about the ambition that drives his career. For probably he speaks in jest, but jest and earnest is known complementary, and Anja have seen and heard it all before. For many months she has worked in the research Nanea at Aarhus University. During that time she has seen his boss when he explains that he would sacrifice a friendship for a position and that he also does not care whether there are better candidates if he comes first. Anja has seen what happens when a new article ready for publication, and the researchers noted on the order of names in the article byline.

Gradually, by Anja also that she did not thrive in that game and that her career should have a new twist. However she does not know that even the whole Nanea heading for doom.

The adventure begins long before the year 2000. Here are launching a lecturer, a research project with a range that matches any vision for the new millennium. For several years, researchers in North Atlantic Neuro-Epidemiology Alliances explore data in large files and thousands of kids to discover relationships between pregnant women's lifestyle and children's abilities in later life. The data is probably the world's largest, and several other innovative projects are underway around the first. The same format has the projects create. Poul Thorsen's him with the high laughter. This is him with millions of United States that make research possible and life at a luxury travel for employees. That's him with the plans and panels that describe how Nanea take world domination and it is he who causes the unit to dance to his tune, even when they feel that something is wrong.

Poul Thorsen is also the contractor. A few months after the interview with Anja, he directs the University of Aarhus into what looks like a historical scandal fraud investigation for more than 10 million dollars, which he himself takes the lead role as the academic response to business Stein Bagger or Tvind cult Amdi.

On the border for spring 2009 are growing suspicions in the upper layers of the administration at the university: Something is wrong with the unit at the Department of Public Health. Nanea do not have the funds available as the project manager creates the impression. Poul Thorsen raised. The year before he went to Atlanta, where he manages the research. But in March, exactly a year since release exile assistant finally caught on his device. While university digs into the murky circumstances surrounding discovery no, he says his position up. In May, University of Aarhus lodges a notification to the police, but only in February this year jumps scandal in the Danish media: missing millions in the box at the university, and it looks like a case of fraud. Someone has been forged signatures on statements on the funding for a research unit at the university. Maybe there is money that has disappeared, and the unit's star has received double pay as full-time employee at both AU and a university in Atlanta.

Poul Thorsen has not yet been charged with the false signatures and black holes. But the suspicion clings to the man who was Nanea father, leader and self-willed ruler. In the center of Århus East Jutland Police prepare a criminal case. And while police gather material and interrogating witnesses, a similar soul-searching process started elsewhere in the city:

"We started in Nanea. On this promising research. And now there is something called Nanea more. It is one man's profit that came something really good research and stand. But it is also with him, the house of cards falls, because he has the burst, as he has. Why do we not react? "

It's Lisa, who ponders. Like Anja, she was on the trip from greatness to decline. Along with another employee, Toke, they agreed to tell their version of the shipwreck at the university and the way thither. They will be available, because the story of Nanea like other good parables beyond themselves and the funkisvilla at Paludan Müllersvej in from north of town where the enclave lived. It is also the story of an academic world where competition for money, prestige and the right to investigate strengthened year by year.

The golden child
Anja remembers his first day at Nanea. High and low, from secretaries to senior scientist, the group lined up in a row, sharing hugs out to the new girl when she starts a few years into the project life. Lisa also remembers the mood. With jelly at the knees she stands up in front of his boss to point out a few poorly thought-out details. But all nervousness will be proved wrong, because his arms are just as open when it comes to new ideas and new employees.

"We should see opportunities! It was Paul Thorsen's slogan, and I can see that he created an alternative research. It built on the principle that everyone was equal worth and had something to offer here, "she says.

One thing is certain, Nanea is unique from the start. This is due to two factors that both enable a device status, most academic environments only dream about. Firstly Nanea gilt. The project's name is on an appropriation of nearly eight million dollars. Guldåren is the U.S. healthcare institution, the CDC from Atlanta, and in years to come, float another eight million dollars to Nanea. The second factor is the scale. Denmark is a register-country. We sit on a knowledge not found in money men over there, and the knowledge, Poul Thorsen access. Based on the databases are full of records of the pregnant woman's lifestyle, work Nanea researchers to map how even tiny amounts of alcohol affect children's intelligence later in life. They examine the reasons for including autism and cerebral palsy in the light of the figures in other registers. The total material is so extensive that several Nanea projects is the most thorough in the world of their kind.

The size also makes the group grows beyond the scope of the parent department of Epidemiology at University Park in Aarhus. It will have its own headquarters in a large square and a small villa kilometers away. From headquarters at Paludan Müllersvej continues device to distance itself from the rest of the academic environment.

Family
One trait separates Nanea from the rest of the university, and it springs to mind immediately. In the first year employees live in a world of glitz and pampering. "We are running in a huge Mercedes!" Is the watchword, and it is true. Every time a scientist travels into the country to collect data, place the trip on business class, "says Anja. Lisa says that the Danes are visiting Atlanta, where they duperes when a limousine rolls up in front of the hotel door to take them to meetings with the CDC . Delicious dinners, liquor with expensive labels and staying at luxurious get-aways as Denmark's castles are on the program when the traffic goes the other way and the money men from the USA visiting Denmark.

While keeping the group together in a rare degree. Nanea celebrations. Summer festivals, winter festivals, Christmas celebrations, there is always a reason, otherwise there seminars. Anja call them energy meetings. Toke and Lisa remembers their formal name, off-site. Here take employees away a few days. They go in groups and make presentations where they share their work with each other. But first and foremost share the vision of Nanea.

Anja'm still the head of it. The white canvas is stretched out behind him. Models and strategies are drawn with Nanea colors and logo in the powerpoint slides, he clicks through. Poul Thorsen speaks. He talks about the future that belongs Nanea. He talks about being the world's top research institution, the brightest in his field. And he talks about how Nanea reach the goal together.

"We should be Committed. It was Paul Thorsen's words, and it seemed a long way down the road. I engaged myself in it, "says Lise.

"We should always define who we were. We were naneanere. There stood Nanea on the mailbox to our house. We had our own logo and our own little things. When a PhD was finished, she got a Nanea-belt with a buckle Nanea-and small-Nanea things we could have on the blouse, "remembers Anja.

Nanea is a family. That they call themselves, and the family has a chronicle. Because even though the group has grown out of the Department of Epidemiology, the two now quite different. They are jealous of our resources while we are special because we have them. They are bureaucrats, while we're loose and large. In the midst of the chronicle is Nanea father. Poul Thorsen has created the family, and his charisma Kitter group together.

"He did it all and he could certainly do well for people. He cried and laughed out loud so we could hear him all over. There was a little hop around after him when he was in the house. Poul Thorsen - it is him, we like to dance with, "says Anja.

The entrepreneurial university
A new time has come to the Danish universities and Nanea the example at the time.

In the old days the researchers sat bent over their microscopes or stacks of thick books. Solid walls shielded them against the world's hubbub, while the overall puzzle of nature's mysteries. Often no one knew what the new knowledge would be used. Jens Christian Skou won the latest Nobel Prize in Denmark in 1997, but physiologist published the first knowledge of his discoveries in 1957.

Today, the ivory tower toppled in ruins. Claus Emmeche director of the Centre for Philosophy of Nature and Science Studies at the Niels Bohr Institute. He is also among the forerunners in the debate about how Denmark's intellectual strongholds controlled. Claus Emmeche not know what occurred in the environment around Nanea. In return, he knows what it takes to succeed in a new academic landscape, and running managers as Poul Thorsen quickly from researchers as Jens Christian Skou.

In December, an international expert panel's evaluation of the new University from 2003 and mergers in 2007, making the debate on universities topical. The very last of the two events mark the result Claus Emmeche a milestone in terms of research in Denmark. This year breaks the politicians with the classical division between research types. Until then, research industry for its own money and to earn more. Sector research gets its functions and its funding from the ministries. Only universities are free to do research for research's sake, outside the box slammed in. For 2007, not only year in which Aarhus School of Business and Aarhus University becomes one. Concomitant down universities and a number of sector research institutions.

"Now they have also taken over the government research institutions challenge. They should ensure that ministries will continue to think they bother to fund their research. This means that they spend a large part of working to justify themselves by creating ever new contracts with purchasers of research, "explains Claus Emmeche.

'The entrepreneurial university', he calls a new era when the skillful researcher not only is he there with laborious diligence peel layer upon layer of human ignorance. Here, "winner of the researcher who is good to appear dynamic and good for networking. It is he who can brand themselves and their research and eager to be entrepreneurial and scrape funds to themselves, "says associate professor.

For society will see the benefits of injection and more every year. And while the basic funds for the faltering basic shrink by two percent each time the year changes, increases the risk that competition culture negative side effects really hits out at Denmark's academic community.

Tax evasion
The device Nanea start due to ravage. One day, Anja a letter by mail. It is from SKAT and says that SKAT has received an anonymous tip, among other concerns Anja. She is one of several employees who receive public money, which she is not entitled.

Anja is employed in a wage subsidy scheme. More precisely, given Anja salary and an amount Poul Thorsen down on top of each month, so she ends up at the right salary for his full-time work. It is not legal. In return it is a condition of her employment. The letters are causing concern. There are several who have to pay money back. They confront Poul Thorsen with it.

"It's really hard for you", says the head and sticks Anja a letter, dated back to her employment begins. It says that she will recover expenses for travel and equipment, and it is intended that Anja give the letter to the Tax and get rid of his bill.

Tax case demonstrates two things. One is that the economy is lagging so much in Nanea that several employees are paid illegally. The second is that it is hopeless to talk to the boss about the problem. Poul Thorsen become 'wool in the mouth "when he demanded an answer that explains Toke. All notes that there are firewalls between the man on the floor and Nanea economy. Scientists can not get to know whether it is millions from CDC or funds from other investors who pay their wages. Nobody can get to know where the money is from and whether there is enough to make each project completed.

In return, states Head not swath of the forecast.

"You can say much but he was good to get ideas, and there came more and more," said Anja, who also explains that the rhetoric down a carefully spin to deflect attention from the wool of Poul Thorsen's response and motivates all to keep going.

Poul Thorsen says his unit for talented new colleagues, who can start tomorrow if just naneanerne addresses and helps to raise funds home. He draws in air and on his slides and talk about blood spots and other projects in which research can be upgraded when the tide turns.

'I must put in the pot to the common good. So we draw twice as much next year, "encourages Poul Thorsen, and Lisa finds that Nanea live as Head directs.

"That one does in a family. Mon stretches for each other '.

But power is not in Nanea. In 2008 Poul Thorsen packs his bags and move to Atlanta. Toke perceive it as if he runs away. The head of it all leaves researchers in the big house and in an economic quagmire that only he is responsible. After the New Year says Poul Thorsen her job. Nanea door with his father, while the scandal gathered around him.

Seduced
At Frederiksberg with Danish Magisterforening to. There are a lot of university research scientists organized, and Jens Braa-Jensen is a consultant for a number of them. Fudge Riet at Aarhus University comes as no surprise to him. Economic antics such as Anja creative compensation packages are usually stopped by the local union representatives at the universities before DM ever hears about them. Yet Jens Braa-Jensen faced 10 questions on illegal wage subsidy schemes in recent years and the reason is clear, according to him. It is "reasonably unique on the Danish labor market, employees in the university must come to work with their own salaries in the backpack - and that they go out if the maneuver fails. Last year, said the Natural Sciences in Copenhagen goodbye to 70 employees due to cuts. Layoffs gives a hint with a pole on the properties that characterize the skilled staff at the Danish universities:

"The layoffs affected only those who were funded by permanent appropriations and generally should be the safest employment, while those on the external projects went free. So begins some researchers to look for ways they can improve their economies, "says Jens Braa-Jensen.

The analysis resonate at the Center for Philosophy of Nature and Science Studies. Here striker Claus Emmeche the university system that celebrates fundraiser and entrepreneur rather than the careful fagnørd. The sun shines on it, once you have proven that he can raise large funds and which keeps alive the flame of hope that there will be more. He is allowed to be in peace, and this time the enterprising university 'certain Stein Bagger-types to commit fraud and scams.

Nanea is dead. But the projects will be finalized within a new framework, and another work wriggling in the old unit. Ex-naneanerne struggling to understand what really happened. For Toke matter is clear: He worked under a great manager with an equally incredible morale, but the head was allowed to stretch out in a world that gave way to his inclinations.

"We have created a highly competitive system where large sums spent on individuals with major research groups, under him, and it favors in a way such people. If you can sell yourself, you fling yourself in this system. If you are downright unscrupulous and no clouds criminal acts, can you at least for a time frisk you, then I do not think it is the latter case, we see '.

Poul Thorsen was the new age man. "He wants his gesture," and he "cursing and swearing always all over the bureaucracy," says Lise. But the ideas were good, and therefore Meaning she is not that old tub was rotten before it sank. The surprise will Lise like to save others.

"For me it is a seduction story. An agitator things. The university celebrates Mon meticulous in the research. We should do everything exactly alike, and we had to meet the most stringent research criteria. There is a long time before you think that someone playing on a completely different way. "

PS
The story of Nanea based on conversations with Toke, Lise and Anja on what they have each experienced their time in Nanea. Østjyllands Police, Aarhus University and Research and Innovation has helped with background knowledge. Toke, Lise and Anja are fictitious names. Information knows their real identity.

Information has contacted Poul Thorsen through his Danish lawyer, Jan Schneider. Poul Thorsen did not want to participate in the article, but Jan Schneider maintains that his client is innocent.

Nanea Rise and Fall
2000 Nanea created with a grant of 7.8 million dollars from the U.S. healthcare institutions Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ). The appropriation is administered by the Research and Innovation under the direction of Poul Thorsen.

2007 project is extended for a further grant from the CDC at 8.2 million dollars.

2008 Poul Thorsen moving to Atlanta, but is still scientific and administrative head of Nanea.

Winter 2008-2009 AU discovers that there are funds available for research which Nanea have used. Poul Thorsen insures that there is money coming from the U.S. and provides affirmations of funds as evidence.

March 2009 Poul Thorsen terminates his duties at the University of Aarhus. Nanea disbanded, but projects continue under the new administration.

Spring 2009 AU discovers that three letters on grants from the CDC apparently forged, like the CDC does not recognize even one letter on an outstanding amount of Nanea first appropriation. In all, the false signatures, an amount of nearly two million dollars.

May 2009 Science and Innovation Council lodges a police report. Notification is not directed at any named person.

Fall 2009 University of Aarhus discovering that Poul Thorsen has maintained a dual appointment as a lecturer in Denmark and professor at Emory University in Atlanta and AU have not approved.

January 2010 University of Aarhus director Jorgen Jorgensen, Poul Thorsen denouncing in a message to Nanea projects partners. The message also mentions fraud case.

February 2010 Aarhus Times takes up the case and the country's other media will follow.

March 2010 Østjyllands Police investigators continue to raise a charge against the key person.

PS
The story of Nanea based on conversations with Toke, Lise and Anja on what they have each experienced their time in Nanea. Østjyllands Police, Aarhus University and Research and Innovation has helped with background knowledge. Toke, Lise and Anja are fictitious names. Information knows their real identity.

Information has contacted Poul Thorsen through his Danish lawyer, Jan Schneider. Poul Thorsen did not want to participate in the article, but Jan Schneider maintains that his client is innocent.

Nanea Rise and Fall
2000: Nanea created with a grant of 7.8 million dollars from the U.S. healthcare institutions Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ). The appropriation is administered by the Research and Innovation under the direction of Poul Thorsen.

2007: Project extended for a further grant from the CDC at 8.2 million dollars.

2008: Poul Thorsen moving to Atlanta, but is still scientific and administrative head of Nanea.

Winter 2008-2009: Aarhus University discovers that there are funds available for research which Nanea have used. Poul Thorsen insures that there is money coming from the U.S. and provides affirmations of funds as evidence.

March 2009: Poul Thorsen terminates his duties at the University of Aarhus. Nanea disbanded, but projects continue under the new administration.

Spring 2009: Aarhus University discovers that three letters on grants from the CDC apparently forged, like the CDC does not recognize even one letter on an outstanding amount of Nanea first appropriation. In all, the false signatures, an amount of nearly two million dollars.

May 2009: Research and Innovation lodge a police report. Notification is not directed at any named person.

Fall 2009: Aarhus University discovers that Poul Thorsen has maintained a dual appointment as a lecturer in Denmark and professor at Emory University in Atlanta and AU have not approved.

January 2010: Aarhus University Director Jorgen Jorgensen, Poul Thorsen denouncing in a message to Nanea projects partners. The message also mentions fraud case.

February 2010: Aarhus Times takes up the case and the country's other media will follow.

March 2010: East Jutland Police investigators continue to raise a charge against the key person.

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