Dr. Bernardo Nadal-Ginard, a top cardiology researcher at the Medical School and chief of cardiology at the Boston Children's Hospital, is under state investigation regarding possible "financial irregularities" at the hospital cardiology practice.

The investigation by the state Attorney General's Office, reported yesterday by the Boston Globe, centers on a discrepancy of between $4 and $5 million found in the records of the Boston Children's Heart Foundation, the name by which the practice is known.

Nadal-Ginard, who is Nadas professor of pediatrics at the Medical School and also the director of the Harvard-MIT M.D./Ph.D. Program, is currently on leaves of absence which he requested last month from the hospital and the Medical School.

Laura Steinberg, Nadal-Ginard's lawyer, said last night that his leaves of absence "did not have anything to do with" the alleged misconduct, but were requested for medical reasons.

In a statement yesterday, Children's Hospital Vice-President Carol Weinrib said "in the course of routine audits, Children's hospital was made aware of possible financial irregularities" within the hospital's cardiology practice.

According to the Globe, the Foundation earned $8.2 million last year and is responsible for paying Nadal-Ginard and the other cardiologists at the hospital.

Steinberg said yesterday that she has "no reason to think that any of the money is missing."

Weinrib's statement also said that "the hospital has referred the matter to appropriate authorities and will cooperate fully in all reviews andinvestigations."

A spokesperson at Attorney General ScottHarshbarger's office confirmed yesterday that theoffice had received the referral, adding thatofficials there have been "very cooperative" withrespect to the case.

The hospital has retained the accounting firmErnst & Young to "conduct a comprehensive audit offinancial transactions within the group,"according to Weinrib's statement.

Nadal-Ginard, 51, has been a professor at theMedical School since 1982, a professor in theHarvard-MIT Health, Science and Technology Programsince 1986 and director of the Harvard-MITM.D./Ph.D. Program since 1985.

The cardiologist could not be reached forcomment last night