Macchiarini was employed as a researcher into stem cell biology at the Karolinska Institute and consultant at Karolinska University Hospital in 2010.
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In June Swedish prosecutors announced they were investigating Macchiarini for involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deaths of two patients, the Associated Press reported.
Paolo Macchiarini has also been accused of falsifying credentials, in both Vanity fair and Aftonbladet, and in 2012 he was arrested in Italy on suspicions of extortion of patients, according to Dagens Medicin.
Wallberg and Hamsten have already left high-ranking jobs at Karolinska amid scathing criticism of how the institute handled allegations of scientific misconduct against stem-cell scientist Dr. Paolo Macchiarini. The Guardian reported Wallberg, now chancellor of the Sweden Higher Education Authority, was sacked Monday from that position.
Nobel Assembly secretary Thomas Perlmann told Swedish Radio that the recommendations to Wallberg and Hamsten were based on the external review’s findings that they had failed to take action when concerns about Macchiarini’s practices emerged.
An investigation last week showed three operations conducted at the Karolinska University Hospital in which Macchiarini transplanted synthetic tracheas coated with stem cells were performed before sufficient study had been done on the procedure and that the operations could not be justified on the grounds of being life-saving.
Two of the patients died.
Macchiarini is also suspected of lying about his scientific research and his past experience with prestigious medical research centres.
A spokesman for the institute said at the time: “He has acted in a way that has had very tragic consequences for the people affected and their families”.
The next victor Nobel Prize in Medicine will be announced in October.
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The medicine award is determined by an independent assembly of 50 professors at the KI on the basis of a list of candidates drafted by a five-member panel.
