Ohio State University To Pay $2.1m Over China Research Disclosure Allegations

By Mintesinot Nigussie  |  September 1, 2026

Ohio State University has agreed to pay 2.1 million US dollars to resolve US government allegations that it failed to disclose employees’ affiliations, collaborations and financial support linked to China in connection with federally funded research.

The settlement covers grants awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation between November 2012 and August 2023, according to the US Department of Justice.

The government alleged that Ohio State failed to report information about certain employees working on NASA and NSF-funded projects, despite federal requirements to disclose foreign government support and other relevant affiliations.

Since 2011, federal law has also prohibited the use of certain grant funds for collaborations involving China, Chinese universities or Chinese-owned companies.

According to the allegations, Ohio State’s annual Faculty Activity Reports had identified some employees’ affiliations with Chinese universities and state-run research organisations from 2014, but the university did not pass the information to NASA or NSF.

The government also alleged that the university learned in 2019 that a principal investigator on NASA grants had participated in China’s Thousand Talents Program, which seeks to recruit people with expertise or access to foreign technology and intellectual property. Ohio State did not notify NASA or NSF until 2023, according to the Justice Department.

The government identified additional university employees involved in the grants who had affiliations or collaborations with Chinese institutions or had received Chinese funding.

The settlement was reached under the US government’s civil enforcement framework and followed a joint investigation involving the Justice Department, NASA’s Office of Inspector General, the NSF Office of Inspector General and the FBI.

US officials said the case highlights the importance of disclosure requirements attached to federal research funding, particularly where foreign funding and affiliations are involved.

Source: FSX Business News