Leading cancer scientist has £3.5m Wellcome Trust grant revoked after bullying allegations

A leading British cancer scientist who resigned from the Institute of Cancer Research following bullying accusations has been stripped of £3.5 million in grant money.

Prof Nazneen Rahman, agreed to step down last month following accusations of recurrent incidences of harassment, intimidation and humiliation from 45 of her current and former colleagues.

The Wellcome Trust has now confirmed it would claw back funding awarded to Prof Rahman as part of its new anti-bullying policy.

Prof Rahman, who was awarded a CBE in 2016, said she would complete her Wellcome-funded research before she left her post as head of genetics and epidemiology in October.

A statement from The Wellcome Trust said: As we have been given information that raises serious concerns we have decided that her Wellcome grants will be terminated or transferred to other investigators.

“Wellcome takes bullying and harassment very seriously. Unacceptable behaviour causes significant harm, stops people achieving their full potential and stifles good research.”

Prof Rahman will also be barred for two years from applying for funding from Wellcome and from sitting on any of its advisory committees or boards.

A spokeswoman for the Institute of Cancer Research said: “We believe an open and supportive working environment is essential for our work to defeat cancer.

“We welcome the efforts being made by the Wellcome Trust and others to improve the culture of the scientific community.”

In 2014, Prof Rahman  was named as Britain's third most influential woman in the BBC’s Woman’s House power list.

And In February 2016, she was awarded the Services to Science & Engineering award at The British Muslim Awards.

She is also a singer-songwriter, with two albums and one EP released.