Findings of Scientific Misconduct, 61443 [05-21150]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 204 / Monday, October 24, 2005 / Notices and approximately 3 p.m. on December 15. Comments: Written comments should be received by December 5, 2005, to allow time for adequate review before the workshop (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT below). The deadline for registration to present oral comments at the meeting is December 8, 2005. Registration: Individuals who plan to attend are encouraged to register online at the NTP Web site https:// ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ select ‘‘Meetings and Workshops’’ as soon as possible because seating is limited. Persons needing special assistance, such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation in order to attend, should contact 919–541–2475 voice, 919–541–4644 TTY (text telephone), through the Federal TTY Relay System at 800–877–8339, or by e-mail to niehsoeeo@niehs.nih.gov. Requests should be made at least 7 days in advance of the event. ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public comments and any other correspondence should be submitted to Dr. Barbara Shane (NTP Liaison and Scientific Review Office, NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, MD A3–01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; telephone: 919–541–4253, fax: 919–541–0295; or email: shane@niehs.nih.gov). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: October 13, 2005. Samuel H. Wilson, Deputy Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. [FR Doc. 05–21130 Filed 10–21–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140–01–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of the Secretary Findings of Scientific Misconduct Office of the Secretary, HHS. Notice. AGENCY: Background The High Throughput Screening Assays Workshop will include plenary sessions as well as four simultaneous breakout group sessions for in-depth discussion. Each breakout group will address one of the following topics: (1) The selection of targets and assays for high throughput screening; (2) the conduct of studies including chemical selection, study design, and analytical methods; (3) data storage, analysis, and interpretation; and (4) the application of data from high throughput screening assays in regulatory decision-making. Following the workshop, the NTP will prepare a workshop report and present its proposed strategy to the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors for its consideration and input. Request for Comments Public input at this meeting is invited and time is set aside for the presentation of public comments during the plenary session on December 14. Each organization is allowed one speaker during the public comment period. At VerDate Aug<31>2005 least 7 minutes will be allotted to each speaker, and if time permits, may be extended to 10 minutes. Registration for oral comments will also be available onsite, although time allowed for presentation by on-site registrants may be less than that for pre-registered speakers and will be determined by the number of persons who register at the meeting. Written statements can supplement and may expand the oral presentation. If registering on-site and reading from written text, please bring 40 copies of the statement for distribution and to supplement the record. Written comments received in response to this notice will be posted on the NTP Web site (https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov select ‘‘Meetings and Workshops’’). Persons submitting written comments should include their name, affiliation, mailing address, phone, fax, e-mail, and sponsoring organization (if any) with the document. 15:19 Oct 21, 2005 Jkt 208001 ACTION: SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) and the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health have taken final action in the following case: Xiaowu Li, MD, PhD, The University of California at San Francisco: On September 16, 2005, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement with the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) and Xiaowu Li, MD, PhD, former postdoctoral fellow at UCSF. Based on the UCSF report and additional analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, PHS found that Dr. Li engaged in scientific misconduct in reporting research supported by grants P01 DE13904, ‘‘Adhesion and proliferation in oral cancer progression,’’ R01 DE12856, ‘‘Oral melanoma alpha v beta 3 expression and metastasis,’’ and R01 DE011930, ‘‘Regulatory function of fyn in oral SCC invasion,’’ all funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 61443 Research (NIDCR), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Specifically, PHS found that Dr. Li falsified three images in Figure 5B of a paper, ‘‘Laminin-5 promotes cell motility by regulating the function of the integrin a6b1 in pancreatic cancer,’’ published online in Carcinogenesis Advance Access, reporting studies on the role of integrin a6b1 and laminin on the invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells and their ability to metastasize. In all three images, mouse melanoma cells were falsely represented as being human pancreatic carcinoma cells; the cancer cells were falsely represented as having been plated on medium with laminin-1, whereas they were in fact plated on medium with vitronectin; and for two of the three images, the cancer cells were falsely represented as having been stained with anti-integrin b1, whereas they were actually stained with anti-integrin b3. The misconduct was significant because pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis for patients, since it tends to invade other tissues and to metastasize early in its course. Knowledge of the factors that facilitate cancer cell invasion and metastasis, which was the focus of the questioned figure and paper, is crucial to attempts to develop better treatments for pancreatic and other cancers. Thus, the falsified figure could have misled other investigators in this important area of medical research. Dr. Li has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement (Agreement) in which he has voluntarily agreed, for a period of three (3) years, beginning on September 16, 2005: (1) To exclude himself 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 Government referred to as ‘‘covered transactions’’ as defined in the debarment regulations at 45 CFR Part 76; and (2) 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 consultant. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Division of Investigative Oversight, Office of Research Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 443–5330. Chris B. Pascal, Director, Office of Research Integrity. [FR Doc. 05–21150 Filed 10–21–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4150–31–P E:\FR\FM\24OCN1.SGM 24OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 204 (Monday, October 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 61443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21150]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Findings of Scientific 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) and the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health have taken final 
action in the following case:
    Xiaowu Li, MD, PhD, The University of California at San Francisco: 
On September 16, 2005, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) entered 
into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement with the University of California 
at San Francisco (UCSF) and Xiaowu Li, MD, PhD, former postdoctoral 
fellow at UCSF. Based on the UCSF report and additional analysis 
conducted by ORI in its oversight review, PHS found that Dr. Li engaged 
in scientific misconduct in reporting research supported by grants P01 
DE13904, ``Adhesion and proliferation in oral cancer progression,'' R01 
DE12856, ``Oral melanoma alpha v beta 3 expression and metastasis,'' 
and R01 DE011930, ``Regulatory function of fyn in oral SCC invasion,'' 
all funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial 
Research (NIDCR), National Institutes of Health (NIH).
    Specifically, PHS found that Dr. Li falsified three images in 
Figure 5B of a paper, ``Laminin-5 promotes cell motility by regulating 
the function of the integrin [alpha]6[beta]1 in pancreatic cancer,'' 
published online in Carcinogenesis Advance Access, reporting studies on 
the role of integrin [alpha]6[beta]1 and laminin on the invasiveness of 
pancreatic cancer cells and their ability to metastasize.
    In all three images, mouse melanoma cells were falsely represented 
as being human pancreatic carcinoma cells; the cancer cells were 
falsely represented as having been plated on medium with laminin-1, 
whereas they were in fact plated on medium with vitronectin; and for 
two of the three images, the cancer cells were falsely represented as 
having been stained with anti-integrin [beta]1, whereas they were 
actually stained with anti-integrin [beta]3.
    The misconduct was significant because pancreatic cancer has a poor 
prognosis for patients, since it tends to invade other tissues and to 
metastasize early in its course. Knowledge of the factors that 
facilitate cancer cell invasion and metastasis, which was the focus of 
the questioned figure and paper, is crucial to attempts to develop 
better treatments for pancreatic and other cancers. Thus, the falsified 
figure could have misled other investigators in this important area of 
medical research.
    Dr. Li has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement (Agreement) 
in which he has voluntarily agreed, for a period of three (3) years, 
beginning on September 16, 2005:
    (1) To exclude himself 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 Government 
referred to as ``covered transactions'' as defined in the debarment 
regulations at 45 CFR Part 76; and
    (2) 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 consultant.

For Further Information Contact: Director, Division of Investigative 
Oversight, Office of Research Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 
750, Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 443-5330.

Chris B. Pascal,
Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 05-21150 Filed 10-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-31-P
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