University inquiry into Professor Stefan Grimm's death

Professor Grimm had been warned that his job was at risk unless he found new funding

Imperial College London has launched an investigation into the treatment of one of its academics, who was found dead after telling colleagues that he felt under intense pressure from the university.

Stefan Grimm, professor of toxicology in the Faculty of Medicine, was found dead in Northwood, Middlesex, in September. Two academics who knew the 51-year-old have now said that he had complained of being put under undue pressure by the university in the months leading up to his death and that he had been placed on performance review, according to Times Higher Education.

Professor Grimm is understood to have been unsuccessful in a number of grant applications and to have been told that his job would be at risk unless this situation improved. The academics said the professor felt let down by Imperial College.

A spokeswoman said the college would provide “all the assistance it can” to the investigation into Professor Grimm’s death. She added that the university had launched an investigation to see if “wider lessons” could be drawn.