A university lecturer and doctor who received thousands of dollars in research grants has resigned over allegations of sexual misconduct and been stood down by Queensland Health.
The University of Queensland issued a student-wide email on Wednesday, saying it had been made aware of allegations against the then-staff member in the UQ faculty of medicine late last year.
"The allegations included misconduct of a sexual nature and raised concerns about assessment integrity, conflict of interest and the handling of confidential information," UQ medicine faculty dean Professor Geoff McColl said.
"We apologise to any of our students who may have been impacted by this situation and acknowledge the courage of those who came forward."
UQ said relevant authorities, including the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (AHPRA), had been notified and the lecturer had "resigned and is no longer a UQ employee".
The lecturer oversaw medical student research and described himself as a "teacher and mentor" with a "strong national and international reputation in the field of kidney disease".
He also worked as a doctor at two major Brisbane hospitals, specialising in kidney disease.
Queensland Health said it was made aware of the allegations on Wednesday and the doctor had been stood down, pending an investigation.
"We have commenced an investigation immediately," Metro South Health acting CEO Paula Foley said.
"While this is being undertaken the employee has been stood down."
Last year, the doctor received nearly $100,000 in specialist research funding from the state government as part of a $2.73 million project aimed at "preventing illness, improving patient care and saving lives".
He also received an investigator grant worth $400,000 from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
NHMRC told the ABC it was in discussions with UQ about the grant.
The Office of the Health Ombudsman in Queensland said it was unable to comment on individual complaint matters.
The ABC has contacted the doctor for comment.
He is still licensed to practice medicine in Queensland.