Nobel laureate Richard Axel resigned from his leadership position at Columbia University's Brain Institute following revelations about his past friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The neuroscientist stepped down voluntarily after facing scrutiny over the relationship. University officials confirmed his departure on Tuesday.
Axel, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2004, publicly acknowledged the association as a "serious error in judgment." Columbia administrators emphasized that he faces no accusations of personal wrongdoing or inappropriate conduct. The resignation comes amid renewed attention to Epstein's extensive network of academic connections.
The 74-year-old researcher built his reputation studying how the brain processes smell, groundbreaking work that earned him science's highest honor. He founded Columbia's Brain Institute and has led the research center for over a decade. His laboratory has produced numerous influential studies on neural circuits and sensory processing.
Epstein maintained relationships with dozens of prominent academics before his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from minors. The financier donated millions to universities and hosted scientific conferences at his properties. His 2019 death in federal custody while awaiting sex trafficking charges intensified scrutiny of these academic ties.
The controversy has continued to roil elite institutions years after Epstein's death. MIT's president resigned in 2021 over undisclosed Epstein connections, while Harvard returned substantial donations linked to the financier. Several other researchers have faced career consequences for accepting Epstein funding or maintaining professional relationships.
Columbia has not announced Axel's replacement at the Brain Institute, which employs dozens of researchers studying neural mechanisms. The institute will continue operations under interim leadership while conducting a search for a new director. Axel retains his position as a faculty member in Columbia's Department of Neuroscience and Pathology.
The resignation highlights ongoing challenges universities face in addressing past associations with Epstein. Academic institutions continue reviewing their policies on donor vetting and disclosure requirements. Columbia officials said they remain committed to the Brain Institute's research mission despite the leadership transition.