A search warrant filed in Harris County alleges a UT MD Anderson Cancer Center instructor transferred more than 3 terabytes of biomedical research data to a personal external hard drive after being placed on administrative leave late last month, prompting an investigation into possible theft of trade secrets.

Law enforcement executed the warrant Aug. 17 at an apartment in UT Health Houston's university housing.

Records show investigators were authorized to seize computers, phones, external hard drives and other electronic devices and conduct forensic examinations for evidence of alleged trade-secret theft or other criminal activity.