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A prominent Indian-American cancer and gene therapy scientist in the US has been placed on administrative leave following allegations of "inappropriate conduct" against him. Inder Verma, a cancer and gene therapy scientist at the prestigious Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California, has been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation into the allegations against him. The institute did not give any reason for suspending 70-year-old Verma, who is considered as one of the world's leading authorities on gene therapy and cancer.