[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 17 (Friday, January 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 5454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01454]
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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:
Rao M. Adibhatla, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin: Based on the
report of an investigation conducted by the University of Wisconsin
(UW) and additional analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review,
ORI found that Dr. Rao M. Adibhatla, Assistant Professor, Department of
Neurological Surgery, UW, engaged in research misconduct by falsifying
results in two publications supported by National Institute of
Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health
(NIH), grant R01 NS042008 and in three unfunded applications that Dr.
Adibhatla submitted to NINDS, NIH, as R01 NS042008-05, -05A1, and -
05A2. The questioned papers are:
1. Adibhatla, R.M., Hatcher, J.F., Larsen E.C. et al. ``CDP-choline
Significantly Restores Phoshatidylcholine Levels by Differentially
Affecting Phospholipase A2 and CTP:Phosphocholine
Cytidylyltransferase after Stroke.'' J. Biol. Chem. 281:6718-6725,
2006 (hereafter referred to as the ``JBC paper''), as the
sPLA2-IIA, CCT[alpha], and PLD2 data in Figures 1B, 2A,
and 3A, respectively
2. Adibhatla, R.M., & Hatcher, J.F. ``Secretory phospholipase A2 IIA
is Up-regulated by TNF-[alpha] and IL-1[alpha]/[beta] after
Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rat.'' Brain Research 1134:199-
205, 2007 (hereafter referred to as the ``Brain Research paper''),
as the sPLA2-IIA data in Figures 2A and 2C.
ORI found that Respondent committed research misconduct by
falsifying Western blot images as well as quantitative and statistical
data obtained from purported scans of the films. The research studied
the effect of cerebral ischemia on phospholipid homeostasis in an
experimental animal model (SHR rat) of stroke during the course of
reperfusion of the ischemic cortex. The falsified Western blot images
and derivative quantitative data describe changes in levels of
sPLA2-IIAA, CCT[alpha], and of PLD2 during reperfusion in
the ischemic cortex.
Specifically, the Respondent:
Falsified the Western blot data demonstrating
sPLA2 expression in a time course after ischemia in Figure
1B of the JBC paper and Figure 2A and 2C of the Brain Research paper by
rearranging the bands such that the labels do not accurately portray
what is in the lanes. He perpetuated the falsification by presenting
the quantification of the single falsified Western blot in a bar graph
as the average of five (5) replicate Western blots. The result in the
paper cannot be substantiated by the actual experiments.
Falsified the Western blot data demonstrating CCT[alpha]
expression in a time course assay after ischemia in Figure 2A of the
JBC paper by rearranging the bands such that the labels do not
accurately portray what is in the lanes. He perpetuated the
falsification by presenting the quantification of the single falsified
Western blot in a bar graph as the average of four (4) replicate
Western blots and the six (6) hour time point was further falsified to
make the results look better. The result in the paper cannot be
substantiated by the actual experiments.
Falsified the quantification of a Western blot
demonstrating PLD2 expression in a time course after ischemia in Figure
3A of the JBC paper by claiming a bar graph quantifying a single
Western blot is the average of four Western blots.
Submitted the same falsified Western blot images and bar
graph data in three unfunded grant applications: NS042008-05, NS042008-
05A1, and NS042008-05A2. Specifically:
< the falsified sPLA2-IIA data were submitted as Figures
3, 8, and 12 in the respective NS042008-05, -05A1, and -05A2
applications
< the falsified CCT[alpha] data appeared as Figures 10, 15, and 16
in the respective -05, -05A1, and -05A2 applications
< The falsified PLD2 bar graph data and associated statistical
claims appeared as Figures 8 and 13 in the -05 and -05A1 applications
respectively.
Dr. Adibhatla has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement and
has voluntarily agreed:
(1) To exclude himself voluntarily for a period of two (2) years
from the effective date of the Agreement from any contracting or
subcontracting with any agency of the United States Government and from
eligibility or involvement in nonprocurement programs of the United
States pursuant to HHS' Implementation (2 CFR part 376 et seq.) of OMB
Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension, 2
CFR Part 180 (collectively the ``Debarment Regulations'');
(2) 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 three (3) years beginning on December 18,
2012; and
(3) To request retraction of the following papers:
J. Biol. Chem. 281:6718-6725, 2006
Brain Research 1134:199-205, 2007.
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. 2013-01454 Filed 1-24-13; 8:45 am]
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