An Alzheimer's research center dedicated to finding a drug to treat the disease is leaving the University of South Florida because of a dispute between the center's leader and the school's administration.

The Roskamp Institute, which is funded with a $5 million grant from philanthropist Robert Roskamp, will move to an off-campus site and open its own memory disorder clinic to replace the one being left behind at the university. The funding will remain with the institute.

Although the move is expected to cost the university millions of dollars in research money and patients from its own memory disorder clinic, university officials downplayed the financial impact of the situation and the potential loss of patients.

Robert Mullen, who directs the institute, claims the dean of the university's College of Medicine has treated him unfairly.

Mullen is also the subject of an investigation by university officials after allegations that he sexually harassed three women at the school. He has denied the allegations.

Fiona Crawford, associate director of the Roskamp Institute, told the Tampa Tribune that the College of Medicine focuses too much on its students and not enough on research.

Other source: Tampa Tribune