[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 29278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11062]



[[Page 29278]]

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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:
    Kenneth Walker, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh: Based on the 
admission of the Respondent, ORI found that Dr. Kenneth Walker, former 
postdoctoral fellow, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh 
(UP), engaged in research misconduct in research supported by National 
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), 
National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant R01 DK081128.
    ORI found that Respondent engaged in research misconduct by 
falsifying and/or fabricating data that were included in the following 
two (2) publications, one (1) submitted manuscript, and two (2) grant 
applications submitted to NIDDK, NIH:

 ``Deletion of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 from the 
peri-wolffian duct stroma leads to ureteric induction abnormalities and 
vesicoureteral reflux.'' PLoS One 8(2):e56062, 2013 (hereafter referred 
to as ``PLoS 2013'')
 ``Fgfr2 is integral for bladder mesenchyme patterning and 
function.'' Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 308(8):F888-98, 2015 Apr 15 
(hereafter referred to as ``AJPRP 2015'')
 Unpublished manuscript submitted to PLoS One (hereafter 
referred to as the ``Manuscript'')
 R01 DK104374-01A1
 R01 DK109682-01
    Specifically, ORI found that Respondent falsified and/or fabricated 
quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) data to 
demonstrate a statistically significant or ``trend'' of statistical 
difference in the expression of renal or bladder urothelium and muscle 
developmental markers between control and experimental (mutant) mice, 
when there was none. The false qPCR data were reported in:

 PLoS 2013: Figure 2E
 AJPRP 2015: Figures 1E, 4C, 7G, 7J, 8F, 12A
 Manuscript: Figures 1C, 4C
 R01 DK104374-01A1: Figure 14E and text on pages 41, 42, 45
 R01 DK109682-01: Figures 10G and 11 and text on pages 43 and 
45

    Dr. Walker has entered into a Voluntary Settlement Agreement 
(Agreement) and has voluntarily agreed:
    (1) To have his research supervised for a period of three (3) 
years, beginning on April 14, 2016; Respondent agrees that prior to 
submission of an application for U.S. Public Health Service (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 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;
    (3) to exclude himself 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 April 14, 2016; and
    (4) to the retraction and/or correction of the PLoS 2013 and AJPRP 
2015 publications, as determined by the corresponding author.

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

Kathryn Partin,
Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 2016-11062 Filed 5-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-31-P