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Walter Pierpaoli, MD, Ph.D.,
Director of Research JCIBR,
President INTERBION Foundation For Basic Biomedical Research,
protesting the charges against Dr. Kay
A reply to Peter Likins, Ph.D., President of the University of Arizona
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Riva San Vitale, Switzerland, August 22, 1998
Peter Likins, Ph.D.
President, University of Arizona
Administrative Building, Rm 712
Tucson, AZ 85721
Dear Doctor Likins:
My thanks for your letter of July 29, 1998, which answers my letter of July 15, 1998.
As a scientist, it is only hard facts which speak to me and can convince me. Your letter does not dissipate my conviction that the truth is hidden behind words and a local parochial shelter. Although I do not know if this will be possible, I hope that the investigation against Prof. Marguente Kay will be repeated and extended to the independent judgement of others outside the University of Arizona. The case is too serious and the consequences of such an intervention against Prof. Kay constitute an extremely deleterious example and record for all of us. As you seem convinced of the seriousness of the allegations against Prof. Kay, an extended investigation of the facts is only necessary and beneficial for the University of Arizona and all USA Universities. You must understand that this is an international affair because Prof. Kay is known to all of us as an extraordinary person and scientist, a woman fully devoted to her natural talent to make discoveries and to offer them to the world, without any personal benefit aside the deep joy of creative persons. I saw Prof. Kay in her lab and at home, immersed day and night into an amazing working activity, which she did especially for her beloved University. I do not believe at all that Prof. Kay was willingly and consciously aware of misconduct and manipulation of data for many reasons. In fact:
- As far as I know her, she is totally and morally unable to even think of data manipulation.
- Why should she need any manipulation of data? SHE DOES NOT NEED MANIPULATED AND RIGGED DATA! She has made several fundamental discoveries!
- An honest person such as Prof. Kay is defenseless in the context of a concerted action against her because the claim of misconduct attributed to her is generated by those same persons in the University of Arizona whom, for a reason or another, will gain from her dismissal. I am highly surprised that a USA University is allowed to manage anything without a proper external control. Freedom is not equivalent to arbitrariness : it needs permanent verification.
I kindly but vehemently ask you, in the name of all my colleagues, to let a second investigation of the facts be conducted by persons who can act as independent observers and have no links either to the Faculty members of the University of Arizona or to Prof. Kay. I shiver at the idea that an innocent error may be used to destroy the life and [career] of anybody of us! Nobody of us is afraid of the truth : we only fear fabrication and specious amplification of "proofs" against innocent people.
With my thanks for your prompt attention and my best regards,
sincerely Yours,
Walter Pierpaoli, MD, Ph.D.
President, INTERBION Foundation
Via Industria 16, CH-6826 Riva San Vitale, Switzerland.
Phone +41 91 648 3292
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