Wei's research focuses on the biology of aging and heart disease. She is a member of the National Institute on Aging's Advisory Council and currently receives four grants from the. agency.

Vicky Cahan, public affairs specialist for the National Institute on Aging, confirmed that Harvard contacted the agency this past week, telling them "it has reason to examine a particular grant" awarded to Wei, known as a "Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award."

"We have just been notified of this and it's too early to comment," said Cahan. "We'll certainly follow up on it, of course."

On Saturday, the Boston Globe reported that HMS plans to announce the creation of a compliance committee to the faculty in the next several days. Gibbons declined to discuss whether the new committee is related to the investigation into Wei's grant.

Wei's resignation came as a shock to Dr. Eric J. Hardt, clinical director of geriatric services at Boston Medical Center.

"At times there are people who develop reputations for unsavory dealings, even in academic medicine," Hardt said. "Jeanne Wei is not such a person."

Hardt believes that speculations surrounding Wei's resignation may be unfounded or exaggerated.