A judge on Nov. 28 dismissed a case against former Houston-based University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center researcher who was accused by the hospital of possessing child pornography, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Here are six things to know:
1. Keping Xie, MD, PhD, a 56-year-old cancer researcher, resigned from MD Anderson in April, roughly three months after the University of Texas-Houston police launched an investigation into him.
2. Dr. Xie was arrested Aug. 20 on allegations his computer contained at least five images of child pornography. A judge dismissed the case against him Nov. 28. Dr. Xie's attorney told the Houston Chronicle Dr. Xie is considering filing a lawsuit against MD Anderson and the University of Texas-Houston police for malicious prosecution.
3. Dr. Xie's lawyer claimed the criminal case against his client was put together after Dr. Xie was forced to resign from the institution in April. He and his wife, who was also a researcher at the hospital, left the institution for the University of Arizona in Tucson and took $12 million in National Institutes of Health grants with them, as the grants typically follow the researcher.
"[Police] acted with intent to damage Dr. Xie's professional reputation and ultimately impaired and hindered his ability to conduct the extremely important research that he does and has done for 28 years," Dr. Xie's lawyer said.
4. Dr. Xie previously sued MD Anderson in 2011 to gain tenure. After he was forced to resign from MD Anderson in May, Dr. Xie said the University of Arizona hired him as chairman of its interdisciplinary oncology department in July. He was placed on administrative leave from UA after Houston police filed charges against him in the child pornography case, and his employment contract was subsequently rescinded in October. Dr. Xie's attorney told the Houston Chronicle Dr. Xie may sue UA to remain employed, as his contract still guarantees him a job.
5. MD Anderson and the University of Texas-Houston police released a statement to the publication, stating: "As with any case involving suspected images of child pornography, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has legal and ethical obligations to turn over such images to authorities. We appreciate the District Attorney's efforts in pursuing these charges, and we respect the Grand Jury’s decision."
6. Dr. Xie told the Houston Chronicle that despite the incident, he would still return to the institution.
"I would like to go back to MD Anderson. I have been an advocate for MD Anderson for as long as I can remember, 28 years. So, I have a lot of work to do and I would like to go back," he said.
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