Nobel Prize-winning Columbia neuroscientist resigns over Epstein ties

Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Richard Axel, co-director of the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute at Columbia University, recently resigned from some of his positions with the institution over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Axel, who won the prestigious Nobel Prize in 2004 for his groundbreaking discovery of over 1,000 special receptors in the nose that transmit olfactory information to the brain, issued a statement acknowledging his past association with Epstein as 'a serious error.' The resignation comes amid heightened scrutiny of prominent academics and institutions who had connections to Epstein, particularly after his 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges. Columbia University has faced increasing pressure to address relationships between faculty and Epstein, whose vast wealth allowed him to cultivate connections with influential figures across various fields, including science and academia. The university has previously stated that it was 'appalled' by Epstein's conduct and had implemented stricter policies regarding donations and associations following his death in 2019 while awaiting trial.