Nobel Laureate Resigns Columbia Leadership Role Amid Epstein Ties

Richard Axel steps down as co-director of the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute following revelations of his association with the disgraced financier.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Richard Axel, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who co-directs Columbia University's Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, is resigning from his leadership role at the university amid revelations of his past association with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Axel stated that his connection to Epstein was a "serious error in judgment" that he deeply regrets, and that Epstein's conduct was "appalling." Columbia said there is no evidence Axel violated university policy or the law, but agreed with his decision to step down from the leadership position.

Why it matters

Axel's resignation highlights the continued fallout from the Epstein scandal, which has ensnared numerous high-profile individuals and institutions. The revelations about Axel's ties to Epstein raise questions about the vetting processes at elite universities and the potential influence wielded by wealthy donors, even those with known ethical lapses.

The details

According to reports, Axel appears in or is referenced in more than 900 Justice Department documents related to Epstein. The documents indicate that Axel frequently visited Epstein's Manhattan home and helped connect the disgraced financier with Columbia officials involved in admissions and philanthropy. Axel, who has been a professor at Columbia for over five decades, is also giving up his position as an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

  • Axel announced his resignation on February 25, 2026.

The players

Richard Axel

A Nobel Prize-winning scientist who co-directs Columbia University's Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. He is resigning from his leadership role at the university amid revelations of his past association with Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein

A disgraced financier whose conduct Axel described as "appalling" and his own association with Epstein as "inexcusable".

Columbia University

The university where Axel has been a professor for over five decades and where he co-directed the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. The university agreed with Axel's decision to step down from his leadership role.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

The institute where Axel was an investigator, a position he is also giving up.

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What they’re saying

“My past association with Jeffrey Epstein was a serious error in judgment, which I deeply regret. His conduct was appalling and my association with him was inexcusable.”

— Richard Axel

The takeaway

This case highlights the continued fallout from the Epstein scandal and the scrutiny that high-profile individuals and institutions face when their ties to the disgraced financier are revealed. It raises questions about the vetting processes at elite universities and the potential influence wielded by wealthy donors, even those with known ethical lapses.