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As reported in the Daily Bruin (“Researcher faces review,” Aug. 15, News), the Seattle Times published an article concerning my consultation call with Friedman Billings Ramsey. The innuendo of the article and its Web site, all under the heading “Selling Drug Secrets,” resulted in uproar that has absolutely no basis in fact.

I did consult with Ramsey on July 18, but did not reveal, nor have, any “drug secrets.” The opinions were clearly discussed in the conference call as opinion, and not, as distorted by The Times, as fact.

The Times article intimated that I had access to confidential information due to positions with the drug companies. I had no such positions. I was not a principal investigator for the Sutent trials, nor did I monitor safety for either the Sutent or Sorafenib studies.

The Times can make or destroy a life, or a career. Such power carries with it important responsibilities to assure that facts are not improperly twisted.

For the past 25 years, I have been an upstanding member of the world community on kidney and lung cancer research, with an unblemished reputation (until the Times article) and record of the highest integrity. I have been chairman of the Institutional Review Board at UCLA for seven years and have been praised for my efforts and maintenance of excellence in that regard.

My life’s work is to find and enhance cures for cancer, to educate people about advances in treatment, and to help scientific progress. I am a frequent speaker on kidney cancer and labeled a “thought leader” by others in the cancer research community, participating each year in numerous national and international conferences. I understand research integrity and maintain very high standards in that regard.

I have the highest regard for and loyalty to UCLA, its researchers and doctors, and I regret any embarrassment to the UCLA community that was caused by The Times article. It is a terrible feeling to have such falsehoods printed in conjunction with one’s name and integrity, and I hope this letter will clarify the truth to the UCLA community.

Figlin is a cancer research specialist at UCLA.