[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 209 (Thursday, October 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 66546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27587]
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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:
Dr. Maria C.P. Geraedts, University of Maryland, Baltimore: Based
on the report of an investigation conducted by the University of
Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and analysis conducted by ORI in its
oversight review, ORI and UMB found that Dr. Maria C.P. Geraedts,
former postdoctoral fellow, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology,
UMB, engaged in research misconduct in research supported by National
Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD),
National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant R01 DC010110.
ORI found falsified and/or fabricated data included in the
following two (2) publications:
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 303:E464-E474, 2012
(hereafter referred to as ``AJP 2012'')
Journal of Neuroscience 33(17):7559-7564, 2013 (hereafter
referred to as ``JN 2013'')
As a result of the UMB investigation, JN 2013 and AJP 2012 have
been retracted.
ORI found that Respondent falsified and/or fabricated bar graphs in
AJP 2012, by changing ELISA-based measurements to produce the desired
result for secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) from intestinal
explants from various mouse strains in:
Figure 2 for GLP-1 release from duodenum (2A & D), jejunum
(2B & E), and ileum (2C & F).
Figure 3 for GLP-1 release from colon (3A & C) and rectum
(3D).
Figure 4 for GLP-1 release from ileum (4A) and colon (4C)
in the presence or absence of an ATP-sensitive K+ channel inhibitor.
ORI found that Respondent falsified and/or fabricated bar graphs in
Figure 1, JN 2013 by changing ELISA-based measurements to produce the
desired result for the secretion of peptides found in taste buds (GLP-
1, glucagon, or neuropeptide Y) from mouse lingual epithelium exposed
to various concentrations of stimuli (glucose, sucralose, MSG,
polycose). These bar graphs also were included as Figure 7 in grant
application R01 DC010110-06.
Both the Respondent and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (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. Respondent stated that
she is not currently involved in U.S. Public Health Service (PHS)-
supported research and has no intention of applying for or engaging in
PHS-supported research or otherwise working with PHS. Dr. Geraedts has
entered into a Voluntary Settlement Agreement with ORI and UMB, in
which she voluntarily agreed to the administrative actions set forth
below. The administrative actions are required for three (3) years
beginning on the date of Dr. Geraedts employment in a position in which
she receives or applies for PHS support on or after the effective date
of the Agreement (September 22, 2015). If the Respondent has not
obtained employment in a research position in which she receives or
applies for PHS support within one (1) year of the effective date of
the Agreement, the administrative actions set forth below will no
longer apply. Dr. Geraedts has voluntarily agreed:
(1) To have her research supervised as described below and notify
her employer(s)/institution(s) of the terms of this supervision;
Respondent agreed that prior to the submission of an application for
PHS support for a research project on which her participation is
proposed and prior to her participation in any capacity on PHS-
supported research, Respondent shall ensure that a plan for supervision
of her duties is submitted to ORI for approval; the supervision plan
must be designed to ensure the scientific integrity of her research
contribution; Respondent agreed that she will not participate in any
PHS-supported research until such a supervision plan is submitted to
and approved by ORI; Respondent agreed to maintain responsibility for
compliance with the agreed upon supervision plan;
(2) that any institution employing her 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 herself 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 period of three (3) years beginning on September 22,
2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Acting Director, Office of Research
Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852, (240)
453-8200.
Donald Wright,
Acting Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 2015-27587 Filed 10-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-31-P