[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 249 (Friday, December 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76491-76492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31275]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Findings of Research Misconduct

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity 
(ORI) has taken final action in the following case:
    Martin Biosse-Duplan, D.D.S., Ph.D., Harvard School of Dental 
Medicine: Based on the report of an investigation conducted by the 
Harvard School of Medicine (HSM) and Harvard School of Dental Medicine 
(HSDM), the admission of the Respondent, and additional analysis 
conducted by ORI in its oversight review, ORI found that Dr. Martin 
Biosse-Duplan, former Research Fellow, Department of Oral Medicine, 
Infection, and Immunity, HSDM, engaged in research misconduct in 
research supported by National Institute of Arthritis and 
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of 
Health (NIH), grant R01 AR054450.
    ORI found that the Respondent engaged in research misconduct 
involving one (1) laboratory presentation and two (2) published 
abstracts:
     Boisse-Duplan, M., Stephens, S., Lai, F.P.L., Oelkers, M., 
Kitamura, D., Rottner, K., Horne, W., & Baron, R. ``The Association 
Between the Microtubule Plus End Protein EB1 and Cortactin Controls 
Podosomes and Bone Resorption.'' J Bone Min Res 26:Supl.1, pS215.
     Boisse-Duplan, M., Stephens, S., Lai, F.P.L., Oelkers, M., 
Rottner, K., Horne, W., & Baron, R. ``In Osteoclasts, Dynamic 
Microtubules and their Associated Protein EB1 Control Podosomes and 
Bone Resorption through Cortactin.'' Bone 48:Suppl. 2, pS97.
    As a result of HSM's and HSDM's investigation, the data were not 
presented at the meetings and the experiments reported in the abstracts 
are being redone.
    Specifically, ORI finds that Respondent:
     Falsified Powerpoint slides and spreadsheets for 
histomorphometric and microCT results by using the values of HS1 
knockout (KO) mice and their controls to represent the CathepsinK cre-
Cortactin KO mice and their controls; Dr. Biosse-Duplan also switched 
two sets of numbers between the HS1 KO mice and their controls to

[[Page 76492]]

falsely demonstrate a difference in bone density when there was none. 
The numerical data were presented at a lab meeting, and false text was 
included in two submitted meeting abstracts published in Bone 48:Suppl 
2, pS97 and J Bone and Mineral Research 25:Suppl 1, pS215.
    Both the Respondent and HHS want to conclude this matter without 
further expenditure of time or other resources and have entered into a 
Voluntary Settlement Agreement (Agreement) to resolve this matter.
    Dr. Boisse-Duplan has entered into a Voluntary Settlement Agreement 
and has voluntarily agreed:
    (1) That if within two (2) years from the effective date of the 
Agreement Respondent does receive or apply for PHS support, Respondent 
agrees to have his research supervised for a period of two (2) years 
beginning on the date of his employment in a research position in which 
he receives or applies for PHS support and to notify his employer(s)/
institution(s) of the terms of this supervision; Respondent agrees that 
prior to the submission of an application for PHS support for a 
research project on which the Respondent's participation is proposed 
and prior to Respondent's participation in any capacity on PHS-
supported research, Respondent shall ensure that a plan for supervision 
of Respondent's duties is submitted to ORI for approval; the 
supervision plan must be designed to ensure the scientific integrity of 
Respondent's research contribution; Respondent agrees that he shall not 
participate in any PHS-supported research until such a supervision plan 
is submitted to and approved by ORI; Respondent agrees to maintain 
responsibility for compliance with the agreed upon supervision plan;
    (2) That if within two (2) years from the effective date of the 
Agreement, Respondent does receive or apply for PHS support, Respondent 
agrees that any institution employing him shall submit, in conjunction 
with each application for PHS funds, or report, manuscript, or abstract 
involving PHS-supported research in which Respondent is involved, a 
certification to ORI that the data provided by Respondent are based on 
actual experiments or are otherwise legitimately derived and that the 
data, procedures, and methodology are accurately reported in the 
application, report, manuscript, or abstract; and
    (3) To exclude himself voluntarily from serving in any advisory 
capacity to PHS including, but not limited to, service on any PHS 
advisory committee, board, and/or peer review committee, or as a 
consultant for a period of two (2) years, beginning on December 4, 
2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Director, Office of Research 
Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 
453-8200.

David E. Wright,
Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 2012-31275 Filed 12-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-31-P