03/11/10

TITLE: MAN WHO TRIED TO DEFEND VACCINES RUNS OFF WITH 2 MILLION
 

A Danish scientist who was a key researcher in two studies that purport
to show that mercury used in vaccines and the measles-mumps-rubella
(MMR) vaccine do not cause autism is believed to have used forged
documents to steal $2 million from Aarhus University in Denmark
according to reports in the Copenenhagen Post Online and a statement
from Aarhus University.

Poul Thorsen, MD PhD, headed up a research unit at Aarhus University
that was hired by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to
prepare a series of studies that would exonerate thimerosal, a
mercury-based preservative and adjuvant used in vaccines, and the MMR
vaccine from any role in causing autism. The veracity of the three
studies he co-authored is now in doubt.

These studies formed the foundation for the conclusions of several
Institute of Medicine reports that claimed that it was highly unlikely
that thimerosal or MMR were implicated in autism.

In a statement Aarhus University officials said that believe Poulsen
forged documents supposedly from the CDC to obtain the release of $2
million from the University. Poulsen resigned abruptly in March 2009
and left Denmark. Since then Thorsen has held several jobs in the US,
first at Emory University in Atlanta and then at Drexel University in
Philadelphia. Documents show that as late as January 22, 2009. Thorsen
was employed at Drexel. Any reference to Poulsen has now been deleted
from the Drexel website.
Investigations also revealed that while employed full-time for the
University of Aarhus in Denmark, Poulsen simultaneously held a fulltime
position at Emory University in Atlanta, and drew salaries from both
Universities despite a contract with Aarhus forbidding outside
employment. According to the statement from Aarhus University.

Autism advocacy groups have published extensive analyses on Thorsen's
studies and found many problems in methods, assumptions and conclusions
that are supported by the data. And Thorsen is the lynchpin in the
series of studies used to dismiss concerns about thimerosal and MMR
causing autism.

See SAFEMINDS analysis of Thorsen's role in the discredited studies here:
http://www.safeminds.org/news/pressroom/press_releases/20040518_AutismAuthorsNetwork.pdf

See the Copenhagen Post Online article at:
http://www.cphpost.dk/news/international/89-international