A researcher who collected blood samples from members of the Havasupai Tribe of Arizona and allowed them to be used for unapproved studies continues to deny any wrongdoing.

Therese Markow originally took the samples for diabetes research at Arizona State University. Tribal members wanted to understand how to fight the disease.

But Markow allowed the samples to be used for studies about migration, inbreeding and mental illness. In total, around two dozen unauthorized papers were based on the Havasupai samples.

"I was doing good science," Markow, who now works at the University of California in San Diego, told The New York Times.

ASU agreed to settle a tribal lawsuit over the misuse of the samples for $700,000. The school will provide scholarships to tribal members and help build a health clinic and high school on the reservation.

Get the Story:
Indian Tribe Wins Fight to Limit Research of Its DNA (The New York Times 4/22)
Havasupai Tribe ends regents lawsuit with burial (The Arizona Republic 4/22)
Havasupai Case Highlights Risks in DNA Research (The New York Times 4/22)

Arizona Appeals Court Decision:
Havasupai Tribe v. Arizona Board of Regents (November 30, 2008)

Related Stories:
Havasupai Tribe resolves suit over use of blood samples (4/21)
Arizona court to hear appeal in Havasupai blood case (4/21)
New Times: Good news for Havasupai blood case (12/16)
Editorial: Cultures collide in Havasupai lawsuit (12/5)
Havasupai Tribe seeks justice in research lawsuit (12/2)
Higher Ed: In Havasupai suit, whose blood is it? (12/1)
Suit over Havasupai blood research dismissed (05/04)
Havasupai Tribe presses suit over misuse of blood (11/21)
Havasupai Tribe sees support for research lawsuit (11/01)
Lawsuit over Havasupai blood moved to state court (5/5)
Scientist not sorry for using tribal members' blood (03/24)
ASU refutes claims of misuse of tribal members' blood (03/18)
Havasupai Tribe files $50M suit over misuse of blood (3/16)
Havasupai tribal members sue over use of blood (3/1)