The caliber of these researchers varies widely: some have little or no track record in biomedical research and have had great difficulty obtaining research funding. Other scientists cited have long and distinguished careers. Foremost among these is Robert Haley, an epidemiologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. In January, 1997, Haley published a series of articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). These studies and the ensuing criticism can be accessed at JAMA's web site (Click on Search and type in 'Haley.')

One example of the critical response to Haley is Dr. Philip J. Landrigan's editorial "Illness in Gulf War Veterans" (Access this by going to JAMA's web site . Click on "publishing search feature" at top, then on the search page, type in Landrigan's name and title of his editorial.) Dr. Haley also has a web site with more of his research work.

--A relatively small percentage (41%) of the group responded in his study, leading to charges that it was not a representative group.

--His measure of exposure is based on subjective self-reporting of the vets. Critics ask how a vet would know whether he had been exposed to very low levels of sarin in the war and they question the reliability of 7 year old memories about vaccines and pills. Haley has made little effort to confirm these exposures with physical evidence like records etc .

--Finally, many neuroscientists argue he has used the wrong set of neurological tests for the hypothesized disorder (See for example Anthony Amato's letter JAMA; see also FRONTLINE's interview with Dr. Haley).

Despite Nicolson's long reputation as a microbiologist, scientists are highly skeptical about this theory. Nevertheless, the DOD is funding a joint study with Nicolson to see whether his special "gene tracking" technique can be validated. This might form the basis for a trial in which vets could be screened for mycoplasma, to see whether those worst affected had the organism.