USC Prof Under Fire For Misuse of Grant Money

Charles Bennett, a tenured professor at the South Carolina College of Pharmacy, is at the center of a case that caused his previous employer to pay nearly $3 million in fines.

Bennett worked at Northwestern University from 2003-2010 and was a researcher on cancer medication, work that was widely acclaimed. But, according to the Chicago Tribune, Bennett used grant money meant for research to travel and pay unqualified relatives for their work. 

Bennett is also the endowed chair of the S.C. Center of Economic Excellence in Medication Safety and Efficacy.

A lawsuit was filed after a whistleblower, Melissa Theis, reported inconsistencies with billing to Northwestern, which were initially ignored, according to a lawsuit.

Theis subsequently left Northwestern and filed a whistleblower lawsuit. The fine is a result of her actions. She will be compensated nearly $500,000.

Lawsuits filed against Bennett and the cancer center where he worked have yet to be settled.

Bennett's arrival at USC was heralded as big news by the university when he came in 2010.

Wes Hickman, vice president for communications at the university, said in an email late Wednesday that the university nor the College of Pharmacy are involved in the civil case and have no specific knowledge — other than a press release issued by federal authorities on Tuesday.

"We take the stewardship of external grant funds and compliance with all government rules very seriously," Hickman wrote. "We have appropriate oversight in place, but in light of yesterday's release we will conduct a review of the faculty member's research grant accounts to ensure all is in order here."