Can Apple can stop the research team releasing the source code?

The research project was partly funded by NSF grants, so does that mean the public have the right to see all work related to the project?

I ask because the lead researcher, Jeremy Andrus, is now employed by Apple and wrote this on the YouTube video:

"I have started a job with Apple, and will not be continuing work on this project. The team at Columbia will probably be doing some follow up work, but I won't be involved from here on out."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uaple0Ec1Dg

http://systems.cs.columbia.edu/files/wpid-asplos2014-cider.p...