SBU Professor Stole Over $200,000 In Cancer Research Funds: DOJ

STONY BROOK, NY — Geoffrey Girnun, an associate professor in the Department of Pathology and director of Cancer Metabolomics at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, has been indicted for stealing over $200,000 in cancer research funds, the U.S. Department of Justice said Thursday afternoon.

Girnun, 48, of Woodmere, was charged in a seven-count indictment on Thursday with theft of state and federal government funds, wire fraud and money laundering, Richard P. Donoghue, United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said.

Girnun submitted fake invoices for research equipment to SBU from sham companies he created to hide his theft of funds from cancer-related research grants issued by the National Institutes of Health and SBU, Donoghue said.

Girnun was arrested Thursday morning and was arraigned in the afternoon.

Girnum pleaded not guilty to the indictment and was released on a $250,000 bond, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York said. He is due back in court on Oct. 4.

In 2013 and 2017, Girnun formed shell companies Atlas Metabolomics, LLC and Empyrean Biosciences, LLC, which provided research items and equipment for the defendant’s cancer-related research projects, Donoghue said. He then submitted fake electronic invoices to SBU for payment to the companies for equipment, goods and services that were never received or provided, Donoghue said.

He used National Institutes of Health and SBU grant funds to pay the shell companies over $200,000, Donoghue said. Girnun transferred the National Institutes of Health and SBU grant funds into his personal bank accounts and used the funds for personal expenses, including payments toward the mortgage on his home, Donoghue said.

"Professor Girnun’s alleged theft of federal and state grant funds earmarked for cancer research can be explained in two words: pure greed," Donoghue said.

Stony Brook University immediately placed Girnun on administrative leave.

"The University is outraged and appalled by the allegations that led to the arrest of Geoffrey Girnun today," University Media Relations Officer Lauren Sheprow said. "This alleged behavior is absolutely contrary to the ethical and professional standards expected of our faculty. The University has fully cooperated with the investigation and at this time is considered by the FBI as a victim in this matter."

If Girnun is convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison, Donoghue said.

Girnun made $168,116 last year, according to See Through NY.

Girnun, who became a professor at Stony Brook in November 2013, holds a doctoral degree in cancer biology, according to the United States District Court. He specifically studied the links between metabolic disease and cancer, the links between metabolism and cancer, Chemoprevention of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by targeting cancer metabolism and targeting metabolic flux in cancer, according to his staff page on the university's website.