Queensland university researcher charged with fraud

A former researcher at one of Queensland's most prestigious universities has been charged with fraud after allegedly misusing grant money.

The 39-year-old woman, who used to work at The University of Queensland (UQ), dishonestly applied for grant funds, the state's Crime and Corruption Commission says.

She has been charged with two counts of fraud, two counts of attempted fraud and two counts of general dishonesty.

She'll appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on November 6.

The CCC said in a statement its investigation was ongoing and further charges were expected.

UQ Vice Chancellor Peter Hoj said in a statement in September last year the university had alerted the corruption watchdog about the staff member's actions.

Professor Hoj said the European Journal of Neurology was asked to retract an October 2011 article about Parkinson's disease because "no primary data can be located, and no evidence has been found that the study described in the article was conducted".

The university also returned a $20,000 grant it received from a non-government organisation due to concerns it had been allocated on the basis of information from the discredited paper, Professor Hoj said at the time.

"By having the paper retracted, the university enables the global scientific community to learn that the research reported in the paper has no place in the body of scientific knowledge, and so cannot be used as a basis for further research," he said.