UCLA Says Researcher Failed to Report Corporate Ties

The University of California at Los Angeles has removed Jeffrey Wang, a prominent researcher and surgeon, from the director's position of the UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center after determining that he failed repeatedly to report payments, stock options and royalties he was receiving from five companies whose products he was studying, The Wall Street Journal reported. Both the state and the university's medical school required the reports. Wang, who remains on the faculty, did not respond to requests for comment. UCLA officials said an additional investigation is looking into whether the corporate ties raised questions about any research findings.