A former University of Maryland medical researcher is suing his erstwhile employer for $6 million, alleging that he was denied tenure in part because he complained that federal money earmarked for HIV research was diverted to another project.

David M. Hone, a member of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute's Institute of Human Virology from 1996 until his last contract expired in June 2003, named the University System of Maryland and UMBI President Jennie C. Hunter-Cevera as defendants in the action.