One of the world’s largest research-funding charities has revoked a £3.5-million (US$4.5-million) grant awarded to a top cancer geneticist, Nazneen Rahman, following allegations that she bullied scientists and other staff when she worked at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London.

The decision to pull the funding represents the first implementation of a pioneering anti-bullying and anti-harassment policy that the charity — the Wellcome Trust in London — introduced in June.

In a statement announcing the sanctions against Rahman, Wellcome says that it has updated its policy in the wake of the case — and reveals that “the ICR’s independent investigation deemed some of the allegations serious enough to warrant consideration at a disciplinary hearing”.

The ICR has not publicly released the results of its investigation — nor made public that it had carried out an investigation into Rahman’s behaviour. In its statement, Wellcome adds that Rahman resigned following the investigation, and that the disciplinary hearing did not take place. The ICR and Rahman have been asked to comment and Nature is awaiting their responses.

“We have been working with the ICR to understand more about their investigation and the allegations that were made against Professor Rahman,” says the Wellcome statement. “Unfortunately, we do not have the full details of the case because they have not been shared with us.”

Wellcome adds: “It is disappointing that a matter such as this should not be seen through to its proper conclusion.”

Despite this, Wellcome says that it had enough information to proceed with revoking the grant — and imposing other sanctions. “As we have been given information that raises serious concerns we have decided that her Wellcome grants will be terminated or transferred to other investigators. In addition, Professor Rahman will not be able to apply for funding from Wellcome for two years and she will not sit on any Wellcome advisory committees or boards for two years.”

Wellcome was the first major UK research funder to institute an anti-bullying and anti-harassment policy; the US National Science Foundation introduced a similar rules earlier this year . Scientists welcomed the policies at the time, but some expressed concerns that they did not go far enough.

The Wellcome Trust now says that it will update its policy in the wake of the case. When it was first announced, institutions receiving funding from Wellcome were required to report only allegations that were upheld. But Wellcome says that it will now require institutions to inform them of allegations when they decide to investigate.

Wellcome has also added to its policy the requirement that institutions must not enter into secretive arrangements that prevent them from sharing findings and otherwise complying with the policy.

And the charity says that it will now advise institutions to complete disciplinary procedures if warranted by an investigation finding.