Scandal Looms Over Key Scientist In Danish Mercury Autism Study
By Dan Olmsted and Mark Blaxill
A website focused on flu vaccines, citing Danish news accounts and a statement from an official of Aarhus University, is reporting that "A Danish scientist who was the author of a key study that undermined the scientific basis for believing that mercury in vaccines caused autism was employed full time by Emory University in the USA without his university knowing, it has emerged. ... Aarhaus University said in a statement today that they had "expressly prohibited" Dr Poul Thorsen from working for a second university, Emory. ... The revelation that Thorsen had a second secret job will raise fears of a hidden bias in the studies and undermine the scientific case for thiomersal." (HERE)
Poul Thorsen was a co-author on two influential papers on the link between autism and vaccines, one on MMR published in 2002 by the New England Journal of Medicine and another published in 2003 by Pediatrics on thimerosal. SafeMinds performed an extensive analysis (see HERE) of the close network of collaboration the included Aarhus University researchers, employees of the Staten Serum Institut (a vaccine manufacturer) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Thorsen was a central figure in that network, with close ties to CDC (Thorsen is 4th from left in photo, click to enlarge), and now stands accused of forgery and fraud. According to a statement from Aarhus University (see HERE for full text):
“The Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation (DASTI) has been a grant recipient as part of a cooperative agreement with the US National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC, since 2001. The grant has been administered by Odense University Hospital and Aarhus University (AU) under the direction of Dr. Poul Thorsen. The grant has multiple components and involves collaborators at other institutions in Denmark, including the University of Copenhagen and SSI (Statens Serum Institut). This successful collaboration has resulted in numerous valuable scientific results, and many more are forthcoming.
“Unfortunately, a considerable shortfall in funding at Aarhus University associated with the CDC grant was discovered. In investigating the shortfalls associated with the grant, DASTI and Aarhus University became aware of two alleged CDC funding documents as well as a letter regarding funding commitments allegedly written by Randolph B. Williams of CDC's Procurement Grants Office which was used to secure advances from Aarhus University. Upon investigation by CDC, a suspicion arose that the documents are forgeries.”
According to the university, “a police investigation is ongoing.”
Thorsen made important contributions to some of the most influential studies that have been claimed as evidence for no link between autism and vaccines. The Pediatrics paper is one of five major epidemiology studies cited by the Institute of Medicine in their 2004 report on thimerosal and autism. Based on these studies, three of which included the Aarhus team, the IOM concluded that “the evidence now favors rejection of a relationship between thimerosal and autism.”
Stay tuned for updates on this story as more details emerge.
Dan Olmsted is Editor and Mark Blaxill is Editor-At-Large for Age of Autism.
Please review the study from Goldman and Yazbak to see
the real truth: An investigation of the association between
MMR Vaccination and Autism in Denmark."by the age of six
months infants in the U.S. had been exposed to 12 vaccines and up to 187.5 micrograms of thimerosal,compared to 6 vaccines and no thimerosal in Denmark.
So do not wonder why the parental resistance to MMR vaccines
increased.False studies,misleading the public,manipulating data,confusing the public...think again.
Posted by: oneVoice | October 29, 2011 at 01:07 PM
My be it is the beginning of their end. It looks like they will sacrifice this Danish scientific crook, so they can save their own necks. However the justice will not be served until the CDC fraudsters, who bribed him with our public money, will be imprisoned for life for their crimes against humanity.
Posted by: vox populi | April 13, 2011 at 09:07 PM
Latest news on mercury in vaccins
#
Company: Induction of metallothionein in mouse cerebellum and cerebrum with low-dose thimerosal injection
Category: thimerosal - autisme
Description: In conclusion, MT-1 and MT-3 mRNAs but not MT-2 mRNA are easily expressed in the cerebellum rather than in the cerebrum by the injection of low-dose thimerosal. It is thought that the cerebellum is a sensitive organ against thimerosal. As a result of the present findings, in combination with the brain pathology observed in patients diagnosed with autism, the present study helps to support the possible biological plausibility for how low-dose exposure to mercury from thimerosal-containing vaccines may be associated with autism.
Url: http://www.novoseek.com/DocumentDetailAction.action?numdocs=0&filters=&corpus=MEDLINE&criterion=1&showType=5&docId=19357975
#
Company: A prospective study of thimerosal-containing Rho(D)-immune globulin administration as a risk factor for autistic disorders
Category: thimerosal - autisme
Description: This study evaluated the relationship between prenatal mercury exposure from thimerosal (49.55% mercury by weight)-containing Rho(D)-immune globulins (TCRs) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
Children with ASDs (28.30%) were significantly more likely (odds ratio 2.35, 95% confidence interval 1.17-4.52, p < 0.01) to have Rh-negative mothers than controls (14.36%). Each ASD patient's mother was determined to have been administered a TCR during her pregnancy.
The results provide insights into the potential role prenatal mercury exposure may play in some children with ASDs.
Url: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a778637558~db=all~order=pa
Posted by: leefbewust | March 07, 2010 at 01:24 PM
So it looks like he "cheated" the CDC out of nearly a couple of million dollars.
"Until last March, the man was head of an 80 million kroner joint research project between the US government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the University of Southern Denmark and Aarhus University.
Jørgen Jørgensen, Aarhus University’s rector, confirmed that police charges have been filed against the former researcher and that it concerns a sum of around 10 million kroner. Numerous applications for funding for the research were apparently signed with forged signatures. " http://www.cphpost.dk/news/international/89-international/48229-researcher-accused-of-cheating-uni-out-of-millions.html
Wakefield gives some kids money at his son's birthday party in exchange for a tube of blood and his life's work is torn from the pages of journals and banished to the abyss.
Let me pose this question, what if payoffs come in the form of grants/studies. Im sure scientists say all the time that the money is for research. Aarhus University didnt get the 2 million, and remember Dr. Scott Reuben? He faked studies and took money.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123672510903888207.html
http://www.pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=54351§ionid=47
Posted by: bensmyson | March 07, 2010 at 12:49 PM
To Paul, You are correct- A child of one and a half in the US could have received one big dose of mercury in the womb and 2 big doses close together at 6 months and one big dose at age one and a half (In flu vaccines) In case he happens to live near air born mercury sources, or his mom eats lots of fish or he requires a tetanus toxoid or a rabies vaccine, autism looms large for him, but no pediatrician is ever going to explain any of this to his mom.For a very good explanation of this topic, please go to Paul G. King / CoMeD. You will find it very interesting
Posted by: Cherry Sperlin Misra | March 07, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Lets stay with the bottom line- We want one good mercury causal study for autism done in the U.S. (the country with the most autism) by a DISINTERESTED PARTY .
For anyone here who may be new to Age of Autism, let me say this > We all know that this seemingly reasonable and obvious request is never never going to get done.
The fact that it will never get done is proof that senior people in Public Health and Pharmaceuticals know perfectly well what the truth of mercury in vaccines is and they will do anything to delay the day of reckoning, when they may have to sit in the hot seat and answer as to why they did not remove all mercury from all vaccines long before year 1999 and why they continue to give mercury in flu vaccines, and some other vaccines
Posted by: Cherry Sperlin Misra | March 07, 2010 at 11:32 AM
really loved this story!!!! now what does this prove. will I see the story on CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC?? I seriously doubt it. again thank you all.
Posted by: n | March 06, 2010 at 05:46 PM
Thank you Mr. Lewis for your honesty.
Posted by: mary podlesak | March 06, 2010 at 05:21 PM
Carol is referring to;
Charles Nemeroff was the head of the psy. department at Emory clinic and he received (hundreds of thousands of dollars) from Glaxo Smith Kline Pharm for his ????? well I am not sure, but it had something to do with Paxill.
The last I heard he or Emory clinic was being investigated by Congress???
What became of that? I have not heard a word what became of it. BUt I am sure they were fairer to him than to Dr. Wakefield.
Posted by: Benedetta | March 06, 2010 at 02:48 PM
From the June 2009 newsletter of the European Network of Surveillance on risk factors for Autism and Cerebral Palsy:
"A change of leadership has taken place since the publication of our first newsletter. Initially, the leadership of the project was jointly held by Dr. Poul Thorsen of Aarhus University, Denmark, and Dr. Alvaro Ramirez of Chiren Therapy Centre, Ireland. Dr. Thorsen has since resigned from Aarhus University. Following this, the project partners agreed unanimously that the leadership of the project should pass to Dr. Ramirez who has accepted the lead role. Aarhus University has since withdrawn from the project. The partners acknowledge the support given by Aarhus University to the project in the early stages.
Chiren Therapy Centre is delighted to announce that since his resignation from Aarhus University Dr. Poul Thorsen has agreed to join the Chiren Therapy Centre team. In his new role as part of the Centre team Dr. Thorsen will act as technical coordinator of three main actions of the final phase of the project. The first activity is to prepare a summary report of all technical reports on perinatal risk factors and biomarkers for ASD and CP. The second activity is to facilitate the review of database availability with the collaboration of all partners, and the third activity is related to his role as leader of work package 6 (proposals for further
research studies)...."
http://www.ensacp.eu/newsletter_2.pdf
Posted by: Carol | March 06, 2010 at 02:45 PM
"And how exactly does that call his research into question? It's not like a fill in the blank test. You actually have to show your work in a scientific paper. And they did show their work. You guys should do less witch-hunting and address the actual science. "
Data points are agnostic and don't care about quarterly profits. Scientists on the take are not so noble though. Is this so difficult to grasp?
It doesn't matter if the data were shown, it all depends on how it is interpreted and what conclusions are drawn, since the MSM doesn't actually read anything beyond the conclusions in the abstract anyways.
Posted by: Doodle | March 06, 2010 at 02:37 PM
M, aka Orac wannabe, I mean, Skepacabra:
Undisclosed conflicts of interest calls the research into question. You know, the same allegation Saint Andy was crucified for and you had a field day over. Or, is this kind of selective prosecution saved only for those that dare speak out against the utterly bad science used to support vaccinating the shit out of our children?
I
Posted by: anon | March 06, 2010 at 10:21 AM
Respectfully, I wish to disabuse this audience of a few misconceptions.
I was a bench chemist with 2 degrees , but no Ph. D. I did mostly inorganic chemistry. I could within the regulations get any desired result without 'cheating'.
In fact, I preferred to have monitoring. Just because the rules are adhered to , there is no guarantee of 'truth.' Often the rules help the scientist to come to the required conclusion.
Posted by: Marvin Lewis | March 06, 2010 at 07:36 AM
“…there is no evidence that vaccines cause autism.” http://www.usnews.com/health/blogs/on-parenting/2010/03/01/parents-vaccine-safety-fears-mean-big-trouble-for-childrens-health.html
Is this “hungry lie” (a lie, per J.B. Handley, that is kept alive only by constant nourishment) fed by the CDC and educational institutions and professors on the take?
How much money goes from the federal tax coffer and then to educational institutions and then to dishonest professors?
It resembles a mafia money laundering scheme. Only the illicit cash cow is fraudulent science.
Does patent money on vaccines follow a similar circuit, only with the vaccine manufacturer added to the cash kick-back loop for the university AND the professor?
And does the CDC really know or even care where the money goes that fails to give evidence that vaccines are SAFE?
Posted by: Jim Thompson | March 06, 2010 at 05:48 AM
Putting aside the tragic autism issue for a moment. There was a bill a few years back to remove thimerosal from all pediatric vaccines in the US. The bill was vetoed by the former President. Shortly after this the decision was made to expand influenza (and now swine flu) vaccination to include children. Considering that many if not most of the influenza and swine flu vaccines contain thimerosal and can be given to children and that these are annual vaccines, it is unclear if the current cumulative dose of thimerosal being given to kids may not in fact be increasing despite the recent attempts to remove it and even legislatively ban it. Thimerosal has already been banned in much of the world over concerns of toxicity. There is no reason regarding either efficacy or safety of vaccinations that it needs to remain in any vaccines let alone pediatric vaccines. Is there anyone who wants to take the position that this unnecessary preservative should actually remain in any vaccines let alone ones that may be given to children?
http://healthjournalclub.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Paul | March 06, 2010 at 02:07 AM
And how exactly does that call his research into question? It's not like a fill in the blank test. You actually have to show your work in a scientific paper. And they did show their work. You guys should do less witch-hunting and address the actual science.
Posted by: M | March 06, 2010 at 12:51 AM
It doesn't surprise me that he is involved in the DSM5 revision process. He has shown some skill in helping to manipulate data to make a statistical relationship (between thimerosal and autism) that initially appeared to be linear at Simpsonwood disappear by the time of publication. How better to make it impossible to prove that linear relationship that to redefine autism spectrum disorders by removing Asperger's Syndrome. If any upcoming epidemiological study shows a significant statistical relationship between thimerosal and autism spectrum disorders, all that is needed is for Thorsen and friends to keep adding data in the future after the diagnostic change (if it is approved) so that it muddies the waters statistically. Changing the definition of the dependent variable will reduce the validity of any scientific study.
Posted by: Vance Laine | March 05, 2010 at 09:30 PM
That's funny, there is no longer any Poul Thorsen listed anywhere on the faculty or website of Drexel University - even though he was on staff in January -
http://www.drexel.edu/search.aspx?q=poul%20thorsen
http://publichealth.drexel.edu/Departments/Epidemiology_Biostatistics/Faculty_Staff/459/
Posted by: Buna300 | March 05, 2010 at 09:03 PM
"Paul Offit, a vaccinologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, takes it a step further. ‘In some instances I think full disclosure can be harmful,’ he says. 'Is it safe to say there is zero risk with thimerosal, when it is remotely possible that one child would get sick? Well, since we say that mercury is a neurotoxin, we have to do everything we can to get rid of it. But I would argue that removing thimerosal didn't make vaccines safer -- it only made them perceptibly safer.’''
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/10/magazine/10AUTISM.html?pagewanted=1&pagewanted=print
Posted by: Jim Thompson | March 05, 2010 at 08:45 PM
A banerjee:
Poul's work address listed on this link is close to the Children's Hospital of Philadephia.
http://www.dsm5.org/MeetUs/Documents/Neurodev/Thorsen%20-%20Disclosure%20-%201-22-10.pdf
Posted by: Jim Thompson | March 05, 2010 at 08:31 PM
"The revelation that Thorsen had a second secret job will raise fears of a hidden bias in the studies and undermine the scientific case for thiomersal."
What "hidden bias?" I thought the use of changing entry criteria in the study already laid evidence of bias, as well as basic lack of integrity, out in plain sight for anyone who has even a limited understanding of statistics to see.
Posted by: JenB | March 05, 2010 at 05:13 PM
Interesting. Is that the same Emory that was involved in the Charles Nemeroff scandal?
Posted by: Carol | March 05, 2010 at 05:07 PM
The fall guy has been chosen? Looks a lot like a recent 24 episode....somebody's got to take the blame so others can look innocent as more evidence mounts of vax-mercury's neurotoxicity.
Show me the monkeys.
Posted by: Beth | March 05, 2010 at 04:18 PM
Bet this gets swept under the rug.... Big pharma will make sure of that. With pockets so deep, I'm sure that they can make this "problem" just go away...
Posted by: Judith | March 05, 2010 at 04:16 PM
Craig;
Thanks for explaining it to me.
I think it will be blown off too.
Posted by: Benedetta | March 05, 2010 at 04:06 PM
What a tangled web these idiots have weaved. So, he took a little money to manipulate studies. Big deal. We're only talking about peoples lives here.
On a side note these clearly manipulated danish studies are the reason a friend's friend feels comfortable placing mercury amalgams into people's mouths all day. Dentists and pediaquacks love these danish studies. I can't wait to tell her about this. he he
Posted by: Maggie | March 05, 2010 at 03:07 PM
Kelli, you probably hit the nail on the head.
http://www.pharmalot.com/2010/01/grassley-targets-nimh-funding-of-academics/
I don't think I'll be needing those smelling salts after all.
Posted by: Adriana | March 05, 2010 at 03:01 PM
I cannot believe what I am reading! I wonder how "they" will manipulate this one? I still am shocked. People who are knowingly poisoning an entire generation of children and have covered their tracts for this long can't be letting this out by accident? It will be interesting to see how it all plays out, I mean on this site, not the general media. They wouldn't dare portray one of their own in such a dark light.
Heather White
mother of a child injured by vaccines July 2005
Posted by: Heather White | March 05, 2010 at 02:50 PM
I want to see the media go after this like they did the Lancet retraction.
Their bias is so blatant that I can safely bet they won't.
Anne Dachel
Media
Posted by: Anne McElroy Dachel | March 05, 2010 at 02:28 PM
Or Adriana...maybe the A of U is doing some "damage control" before the Emory link is made public by sayyyyy Grassley?
It's interesting the timing on all this....Emory....Insel.....Grassley.
Could be wrong but from my understanding the guy has been out of country and out of that position for over a year.
So why NOW?
The $20,000 dinero question.
Posted by: Kelli Ann Davis | March 05, 2010 at 02:21 PM
Cherry-- it looks like there's going to be more investigations of the anthrax attacks:
http://anthraxvaccine.blogspot.com/2010/03/nadler-renews-call-for-independent.html
Posted by: Adriana | March 05, 2010 at 02:10 PM
"Because the pediatric vaccination practices of Denmark differed greatly from those of the U.S. during the study period, Madsen (and Thorson)'s conclusions, even if relevant to Denmark, were certainly not applicable to the U.S."
- Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons Volume 9 Number 3 Fall 2004
Posted by: Kevin Barry | March 05, 2010 at 02:03 PM
Benedetta,
Undisclosed Conflict of Interest. You know, what they accused Dr. Wakefield of? This calls the validity of his research into question in respects to being unbiased.
My bet is that the Vaccine Injury and Death Promoters will blow it off and say it doesn't matter.
Posted by: Craig Willoughby | March 05, 2010 at 01:54 PM
Thanks so much, Dan and Mark.
It struck me for an instant that maybe he tried to blow the whistle on the studies and they're smearing him. Or maybe they've known about Thorsen's corruption for years but are about to announce that thimerosal is dangerous after all and needed a fall guy. I'm afraid I suffer from "environmentally induced cynicism".
But perhaps the Danish authorities really are shocked that this person is corrupt and intend to do something about it, may even call into question the validity of the research he participated in along with the safety of thimerosal from a genuine sense of concern. If that happens, I may need smelling salts. Just wave something written by Brian Deer under my nose to snap me out of it.
Posted by: Adriana | March 05, 2010 at 01:21 PM
Thanks Cherry for the reference, I am interested in this web of deceit.
Posted by: mary podlesak | March 05, 2010 at 01:17 PM
Mary the guy that committed suicide behind the anthrax scare - invented the anthrax vaccine stuff. I do not feel there is any conspiring here. The man beleived in his invention and used it. He went insane. It is that simple. It is logical.
Dan and Mark; My son is not the only one that has a little bit of social - political problems - I do too. Because I am not fully understanding this or it's implications. Please someone here spell it out to me. So, this Thorsen had two jobs instead of one, and it was againest the rules. Even if it meant he did not have intregity the studies would still stand, right?
The fact that the other job he worked at was Emory clinic is that what is important here? Emory Clinic sits real close to the CDC headquarters. So is the thinking here that Emory Clinic and their ties with the CDC and the committee that works for the CDC that decides what vaccines and boosters are mandatory makes the study tainted?
Is that it? OR have I missed something even more important.
I am sorry, I do not understand?
Posted by: Benedetta | March 05, 2010 at 01:13 PM
To Mary Podlesack, If you are interested in the anthrax case, there was a very interesting article in Vanity Fair, perhaps a year or two after the episode, in which an English professor was called in to investigate the case. He employs a certain type of literary forensic method. After concluding his work, he pointed a finger of suspicion at a certain individual who was NOT the one finally accused for the crime. The article mentions that another forensic investigator, using a different forensic method, also suspected the same individual.It appeared that the perpetrator was upset that the US govt had ceased to give a lot of attention and funds to Chemical and Biological warfare and wanted to change that situation. I suspect he suceeded rather well in that ! It seems likely that we shall never know the truth of that episode.
Posted by: Cherry Sperlin Misra | March 05, 2010 at 12:58 PM
Wow, this sounds a "little" more unethical than doing a single blood draw on children with the parents' and children's permission, while paying them $10 for their time.....but maybe that's just me.
I wonder how much media attention this is going to get. And I wonder if the study will be retracted. It certainly should be.
Posted by: Kristina | March 05, 2010 at 12:43 PM
Teresa:
"This should shock us all -- but these shady characters just get shadier and shadier."
Doesn't shock me in the least, Teresa. Hell, nothing they do shocks me anymore.
cmo said:
"Thank goodness the CDC still has piles of bankrupt HMO vaccine data to fall back on."
You win the interwebz this week!!! I LOLed
Posted by: Craig Willoughby | March 05, 2010 at 12:38 PM
http://www.dsm5.org/MeetUs/Documents/Neurodev/Thorsen%20-%20Disclosure%20-%201-22-10.pdf
Poul current job is writing the manual of Psychiatric disorder and he is working for the Drexel University
Posted by: A banerjee | March 05, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Thank goodness the CDC still has piles of bankrupt HMO vaccine data to fall back on.
Posted by: cmo | March 05, 2010 at 12:20 PM
please send a copy of this to Big Noise Films and ask them to do a little movie on it.
[email protected]
Posted by: maggie | March 05, 2010 at 12:17 PM
This should shock us all -- but these shady characters just get shadier and shadier.
If you are already without integrity, without morals, and without a conscience then anything is possible. Stay tuned is right!
Posted by: Teresa Conrick | March 05, 2010 at 12:12 PM
How can we have confidence in the rendition of facts offered by the CDC or Aarhus University, since they must have knowingly obscured the data, methods, conclusions, etc. and their manipulation in the Danish autism-vaccine studies? If they were colluding in the publication and distribution of these fraudulent studies, why would we expect them to be truthful in regard to the disappearance of Dr. Thorsen and money that disappeared? He's just a hired gun, if he's still alive. Has anyone actually seen him in Atlanta? Keep in mind what just occurred in regard to the Anthrax letter case. A dead scientist who committed "suicide" with no witnesses(?) has postumously been blamed for sending those anthrax letters. How convenient!
Posted by: mary podlesak | March 05, 2010 at 12:06 PM
Surprizeeee, Surprizzeee (Gomer Pyle style)
And that is all I've got to say....
Posted by: Kelli Ann Davis A.K.A. Gomer | March 05, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Some useful background: F Edward Yazbak 'The CDC finances, writes and helps publish Danish research':
http://www.taap.info/DanishStudy2005.pdf
Posted by: John Stone | March 05, 2010 at 10:51 AM
How much does a modern Judas desire?
Look at the fourth person from the left smile and think "11 million dollars!"
See http://www.theflucase.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2903%3Asecret-second-job-of-danish-autism-scientist-raises-fears-of-conflict-of-interest&catid=41%3Ahighlighted-news&Itemid=105&lang=en
Posted by: Jim Thompson | March 05, 2010 at 10:47 AM
LOL, are they going to retract the study now?
Posted by: Schwartz | March 05, 2010 at 10:44 AM