I recently was offered funding to carry out research in a particular area that has not been covered before. I accepted the funding and then due to difficult and unforeseen life events had to say I couldn't do it. The Doctor with whom i was working on hearing the news sent me an email with condolences saying she was grateful for me for highlighting the lack of research in this area and that the department intended to develop the research themselves. Talk about putting salt in the wound. Can anyone tell me whether they can do this - it seems so unethical.