Walter DeNino

Walter F. DeNino is a medical student interested in the prevention and treatment of obesity. DeNino is also widely known as the student who brought the frauds of Eric Poehlman to light in 2004, when he (DeNino) filed allegations at the University of Vermont that led to a federal false-claims suit and Department of Justice investigation against Poehlman for misrepresentations made to the National Institutes of Health.

The US government secured $180,000 from Poehlman as repayment for the falsifications to the NIH; DeNino is to receive $16,000 to cover his legal fees. Poehlman admitted wrong-doing and plead guilty to a felony charge. In a precedent-setting case, he has been banned for life from receiving federal funds for research in both the United States and Canada and will serve over one year in federal prison.

DeNino is the President and founder of a company based in New York City, Trismarter.com [http://www.Trismarter.com] . Trismarter.com provides personalized triathlon coaching and sports nutrition services to men and women who seek assistance in their preparations for the challenging triathlon event. DeNino hopes to bring the sport of triathlon into the global fight against obesity with the development of his programs "Tri2lose" [http://www.trismarter.com/tri2lose.html] and "Tri4Life" [http://www.trismarter.com/tri4life.html] .Fact|date=February 2007

Walter completed a post-baccalaureate program at Columbia University from 2002-2005. He later began medical school at the University of Vermont, where he will receive his M.D. in 2010.

Quotes

* "I was shocked when I discovered Dr Poehlman's activity. He and his lawyers attacked my character."

* "I could not escape the fact that a powerful, respected scientist was obviously struggling to explain his actions by layering lie upon lie," said DeNino.

* "There's a fair amount of vindication but a sense of responsibility for this," he said. "I brought these allegations. Although I don't regret what I did, sometimes it's hard to grasp the gravity of it all. All of science will be affected by this."

* DeNino, now 28 and a post-graduate student at Columbia University in New York City, said he considers his long fight "an accomplishment for the process that is in place to ensure that truth in science is preserved."

* "Funding should be appropriated to those who deserve it," he said.