Top Harvard Scientist Working on Cancer Detection Tech Detained by US Immigration
A leading scientist at Harvard Medical School, involved in cutting-edge cancer detection research, has been detained by US immigration authorities and faces possible deportation.
Kseniia Petrova, 30, a bioinformatician working at Harvard’s prestigious Kirschner Lab, was arrested in mid-February at Boston Logan International Airport. She is currently being held at the ICE-operated Richwood Correctional Center in Louisiana.
Petrova was returning from Paris with biological materials intended for a collaborative project between Harvard and a French lab. Her lawyer, Gregory Romanovsky, claims she was unaware that she needed to declare the frog embryos she was carrying and has labelled her arrest a disproportionate response.
US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials allege that Petrova “knowingly broke the law” by attempting to smuggle undeclared biological materials into the country. The DHS claims vials of embryonic frog cells, petri dishes, and containers with unidentified substances were discovered by customs officers and canine units. Text messages on Petrova’s phone allegedly revealed intent to bypass customs declarations.
Her J-1 scholar visa was immediately revoked. Romanovsky argues the action was unnecessarily punitive and claims that Petrova is also at risk of persecution if deported, having previously been arrested in Russia for protesting against the war in Ukraine.
Petrova is credited with developing advanced computational scripts to support an experimental microscope capable of detecting cancer at its earliest stages. Her colleagues state she is uniquely qualified to realise the full potential of the device. Harvard researcher Dr Leon Peshkin described the case as alarming for international academics working in the United States.
“This is not just about immigration law,” said Romanovsky. “This is about the broader message being sent to global scientific talent.”
Petrova’s asylum hearing is scheduled for May 7 in Jena, Louisiana.
