North Macedonia was involved in a project mentioned in documents related to convicted American pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, but the entire procedure was conducted legally, according to Aleksej Duma, former director of the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Skopje, in an interview with Deutsche Welle.
North Macedonia is also referenced in recently released documents by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding Epstein—convicted of trafficking minors and sexual abuse—in an email sent to Ike Groff, founder of the investment firm Tourmaline Partners, which cites a Bloomberg Businessweek investigation by Cynthia Koons and Robert Lagret.
As part of the project, American scientists affiliated with Columbia University created a large bank of human brains for research on suicide, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric disorders. The collection included around 1,000 brains, some from individuals who died by suicide and others serving as control samples.
In this context, North Macedonia contributed samples. The report states that brains were collected post-mortem, immediately frozen, and transported to the United States under strict control, where they were archived and labeled with QR codes. Strict protocols were enforced: brains were transported in controlled conditions, packaged in specialized containers, and stored at -80°C.
Aleksej Duma: Largest International Project We Participated In
Duma explained to Deutsche Welle that North Macedonia contributed 10 to 15 samples per year as part of the international project. The procedure for sending the samples to the U.S. adhered to strict ethical and legal controls, with approval required from both Macedonian and American Ethics Committees.
“Samples traveled mostly legally by airplane, passed customs, and had complete documentation. Without permission, no sample could enter the U.S.,” Duma emphasized, dismissing any possibility of personal gain from the process.
He also clarified that the figure of 1,000 brains does not refer to Macedonian specimens but to the entire collection from multiple countries.
“Considering we conducted 300 to 350 autopsies across all sectors each year, the question is how many were suicides. In the end, the number drops to 10–15 cases per year,” Duma explained.
It remains unclear whether family consent was required at the time or if approval from the Ethics Committee and an informative letter sufficed.
Role of Gorazd Rosoklija
A 2014 document from MANU, authored by Gorazd Rosoklija, Columbia University professor, Alexey Duma, former director of Forensic Medicine, and Andrew J. Dwork, was published on the U.S. National Library of Medicine website. The document details a long-term collaboration between Columbia University and the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Skopje, beginning in 1996, aimed at studying brain changes in schizophrenia and suicide.
Rosoklija is mentioned as the key liaison between Columbia University and Macedonian institutions. He frequently traveled to North Macedonia, managed administrative processes, and played a critical role in approving the export of biological samples.
In 2010, media reports noted that Rosoklija was working to establish the country’s first psychiatric research center to provide accurate diagnostics and modern research methods. He also initiated a project funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish an electron microscopy center in North Macedonia for studying the ultrastructure of brain tissue in schizophrenia patients.
Project Results and Significance
Professor Duma states that the project yielded valuable scientific insights:
- Methods were developed to identify morphological brain changes associated with suicide;
- New knowledge was gained about the connection between schizophrenia and suicide;
- Results contributed to numerous international studies;
- North Macedonia gained access to laboratories, equipment, and doctoral research opportunities for young scientists.
