A former University of Queensland neuroscientist accused of falsifying his research will return to court next year to face 17 fraud charges after having his bail extended on Friday morning.
Three years ago, Professor Bruce Murdoch, 64, claimed to have made a revolutionary breakthrough in the fight against the degenerative central nervous system disorder Parkinson's Disease.
In 2011, the globally acclaimed academic published findings of an alleged trial of a new technique, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, in the prestigious European Journal of Neurology.
He claimed the technique he developed gave advanced Parkinsons' sufferers the ability to speak again.
The paper was internationally lauded.
However, it will be alleged in court that no primary data exists to support the findings.
An investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission, acting on allegations by a UQ whistleblower, revealed, as will be alleged, the technique was never tested.
He has been charged with 17 fraud based offences including producing false records, forgery, forging documents and attempted fraud.
He appeared briefly in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday morning, where bail granted to him after the charges were laid in September was extended until his next court appearance on February 2, 2015.
Professor Murdoch resigned from his post as the founding director of UQ's Centre for Neurogenic Communication Disorders Research in June, pending the outcome of the investigation.
It is understood he has since retired.
Professor Murdoch was hailed a neuroscience pioneer and recognised as an international authority on neurologically acquired speech disorders.
He headed UQ's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences from January 1999 to December 2009.
- With Marissa Calligeros
