> Maybe as an aside, but why should this research be done at university level?

Why not? Universities perform research - typically free from outside interference (academic freedom). And there are good reasons for academic freedom (which I'm not getting into here). As a consequence, academic freedom limits the reasons to stop this research from happening at a university.

So what is it in the contents of this research that makes you think it is not at an academic level or a violation of ethical standards?