Vic: Monash denies gagging Trounson
MELBOURNE, Aug 30 AAP - Monash University has denied reports it has gagged ProfessorAlan Trounson, the man accused of misleading federal MPs over embryonic stem cell research.
The Age newspaper, quoting Prof Trounson, today reported that he had been banned bythe university from making further comment.
"It's not something that I endorse, but I've had to agree with it, otherwise I'll losemy job, they said. It was pretty severe. I have to think of my family - I need my job,"
Australia's leading biotechnology researcher was quoted as saying.
However, university marketing and communication director Meredith Jackson today deniedany orders had been given and described the Age report as a "beat-up".
"I don't use that term loosely," she said.
"Professor Trounson gave a public address attended by hundreds of people last nightand the media were there.
"He may have been given some advice by friends and colleagues, but there has been nodirective from the university."
Prof Trounson, who is regarded as the public face of stem cell research in Australia,angered federal MPs this week when it emerged he wrongly attributed the recovery of acrippled rat, shown to parliament in a video, to embryonic stem cells.
The rat was cured by germ cells taken from an aborted foetus.
He said yesterday that he felt it was appropriate to describe them as embryonic stemcells to distinguish them from adult stem cells.
Prof Trounson apologised for inadvertently misleading MPs.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister John Howard said he would reconsider $46 million in federalfunding for Monash's National Stem Cell Centre, which Prof Trounson will head.
Mr Howard meantime remains confident the parliament will pass laws to allow embryonicstem cell research despite MPs splitting his legislation.
The stem cell research had been tied to a proposal to ban human cloning.
Yesterday the parliament voted to split the bill, allowing MPs to pass the ban on cloningwhile allowing more debate on the stem cell issue.
AAP ag/mh/ph/bwl
KEYWORD: TROUNSON LEAD
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