Findings of Research Misconduct, 31521-31522 [2020-11158]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 101 / Tuesday, May 26, 2020 / Notices
Dated: May 20, 2020.
Sherrette A. Funn,
Office of the Secretary, Paperwork Reduction
Act Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020–11250 Filed 5–22–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150–31–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary
Findings of Research Misconduct
Office of the Secretary, HHS.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Findings of research
misconduct have been made against Mr.
Logan Fulford (Respondent), who was a
graduate research assistant, Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital Medical Center
(CCHMC), and former graduate student,
University of Cincinnati (UC). Mr.
Fulford engaged in research misconduct
in research supported by National
Cancer Institute (NCI), National
Institutes of Health (NIH), grant R01
CA142724 and National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH, grant
R01 HL084151. The administrative
actions, including supervision for a
period of two (2) years, were
implemented beginning on May 8, 2020,
and are detailed below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elisabeth A. Handley, Director, Office of
Research Integrity, 1101 Wootton
Parkway, Suite 240, Rockville, MD
20852, (240) 453–8200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is
hereby given that the Office of Research
Integrity (ORI) has taken final action in
the following case:
Mr. Logan Fulford, Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital Medical Center:
Based on the report of an investigation
conducted by CCHMC and additional
analysis conducted by ORI in its
oversight review, ORI found that Mr.
Logan Fulford, former graduate research
assistant, CCHMC, and former graduate
student, UC, engaged in research
misconduct in research supported by
NCI, NIH, grant R01 CA142724 and
NHLBI, NIH, grant R01 HL084151.
Respondent neither admits nor denies
ORI’s findings of research misconduct;
the settlement is not an admission of
liability on the part of the Respondent.
The parties entered into a Voluntary
Settlement Agreement (Agreement) to
conclude this matter without further
expenditure of time, finances, or other
resources.
ORI found that Respondent engaged
in research misconduct by intentionally,
SUMMARY:
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19:08 May 22, 2020
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knowingly, and/or recklessly falsifying
data that were included in:
• The transcription factor FOXF1
promotes prostate cancer by stimulating
the mitogen-activated protein kinase
ERK5. Science Signaling 2016
May;9:427 (hereafter referred to as
‘‘Science Signaling 2016’’).
• Foxf1 Deficient Cancer-Associated
Fibroblasts Promote Prostate Cancer
Progression via Paracrine Wnt11
Signaling. Unpublished manuscript
(hereafter referred to as the
‘‘unpublished manuscript’’).
ORI found that Respondent
intentionally, knowingly, and/or
recklessly falsified
immunohistochemistry and western blot
data included in Science Signaling 2016
and in an unpublished manuscript, by
reusing and relabeling images to
represent the expression of different
proteins and/or different experimental
conditions. Specifically:
• In Figure 2C of Science Signaling
2016, Respondent reused one
immunohistochemistry image, to
represent Cle casp-3 expression in
Myc-CaP tumors under both Control
and FoxF1–OE conditions and used
another immunohistochemistry
image to represent Cle casp-3
expression in TRAMP tumors under
both Control and FoxF1–OE
conditions
• in Figure S4E of Science Signaling
2016, Respondent reused and
relabeled western blot panels to
represent the expression of multiple
different proteins under different
experimental conditions.
Specifically:
—Respondent used different
exposures of the source blot to
represent FOXF1 or WNK1
expression in 22RV1 tumors
transfected with scramble RNA or
shFOXF1, or pERK5 expression in
C4–2B tumors transfected with
scramble RNA or shFOXF1
—Respondent used different
exposures and size scaling of the
source blot to represent MAP3K2 or
pERK5 expression in 22RV1 tumors
transfected with scramble RNA or
shFOXF1 or FOXF1 or WNK1
expression in C4–2B tumors
transfected with scramble RNA or
shFOXF1, or FOXF1 or WNK1
expression in C4–2B tumors
transfected with scramble or
shFOXF1
—Respondent used background
lightening/darkening and size
scaling of the source blot to
represent b-ACTIN expression in
22RV1 tumors transfected with
scramble or shFOXF1, or Total
PO 00000
Frm 00091
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
31521
ERK5 expression in C4–2B tumors
transfected with scramble RNA or
shFOXF1
—Respondent used size scaling and
rotation of the source blot to
represent Total ERK5 in 22RV1
tumors transfected with scramble
RNA or shFOXF1, or b-ACTIN
expression in C4–2B tumors
transfected with scramble RNA or
shFOXF1
• in Figure 7C of Science Signaling
2016, Respondent reused and
relabeled one source western blot
panel to represent the expression of
different proteins in the presence of
FOXF1 overexpression.
Specifically:
—different exposures, size scaling,
and rotation of the same blot were
used to represent b-Actin, pERK5,
Total ERK, and MAP3K2 expression
in FOXF1-overexpressing Myc-CaP
tumors transduced with scramble
RNA, shMAP3K2 RNA, shWNK1, or
both
• in Figure S3B of Science Signaling
2016, Respondent spliced, size
scaled, and rotated the source
western blot representing
expression of Erk5 in TRAMP
tumors and represented it as both
pERK5 and Total ERK5 expression
in TRAMP tumors under both
control and FOXF1–OE conditions
• in Figure 3B of the unpublished
manuscript, Respondent fabricated
the data to falsely represent the
upregulation of Wnt11 mRNA in
human fibroblasts from prostate
cancer samples, compared to those
from normal patient samples
• in Figures 3F and S8 of the
unpublished manuscript,
Respondent reused and relabeled
source western blot panels
representing Wnt11 expression in
HeLa (cervical cancer) to represent
Wnt11 expression in MDA–MB–231
fibroblasts (prostate cancer)
As a result of the investigation, Science
Signaling 2016 was retracted in: Science
Signaling 2018 Jul;11:541.
Mr. Fulford entered into an
Agreement and agreed to the following:
(1) Respondent agreed to have his
research supervised for a period of two
(2) years beginning on May 8, 2020.
Respondent agreed that prior to the
submission of an application for U.S.
Public Health Service (PHS) support for
a project on which 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 101 / Tuesday, May 26, 2020 / Notices
supervision plan must be designed to
ensure the scientific integrity of
Respondent’s research contribution.
Respondent agreed that he shall 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) The requirements for Respondent’s
supervision plan are as follows:
i. A committee of 2–3 senior faculty
members at the institution who are
familiar with Respondent’s field of
research, but not including
Respondent’s supervisor or
collaborators, will provide oversight and
guidance for two (2) years from the
effective date of the Agreement. The
committee will review primary data
from Respondent’s laboratory on a
quarterly basis and submit a report to
ORI at six (6) month intervals, setting
forth the committee meeting dates and
Respondent’s compliance with
appropriate research standards and
confirming the integrity of Respondent’s
research.
ii. The committee will conduct an
advance review of any PHS grant
applications (including supplements,
resubmissions, etc.), manuscripts
reporting PHS-funded research
submitted for publication, and abstracts.
The review will include a discussion
with Respondent of the primary data
represented in those documents and
will include a certification to ORI that
the data presented in the proposed
application/publication is supported by
the research record.
(3) If no supervisory plan is provided
to ORI, Respondent agreed to provide
certification to ORI at the conclusion of
the supervision period that he has not
engaged in, applied for, or had his name
included on any application, proposal,
or other request for PHS funds without
prior notification to ORI.
(4) Respondent agreed 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
May 8, 2020.
Dated: May 19, 2020.
Elisabeth A. Handley,
Director, Office of Research Integrity, Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Health.
[FR Doc. 2020–11158 Filed 5–22–20; 8:45 am]
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Application Deadline Date: June 29,
2020.
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: July
14, 2020.
discretionary appropriation. The IHS
also enters into agreements with 41
Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs).
These 41 UIOs are 501(c)(3) non-profit
organizations that provide culturally
appropriate and quality health care and
referral services for Urban Indians
throughout the United States in 22
states. The IHS seeks to collaborate with
local communities, not-for-profit
organizations, universities and schools,
foundations, businesses, and Federal
agencies. This effort will foster outreach
and education addressing health policy
and health program issues; broadcast
educational information to all American
Indian and Alaska Native people;
provide policy/legislative updates,
advocacy, and technical assistance.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose
Statutory Authority
The purpose of this IHS cooperative
agreement is to further IHS’s mission
and goals related to providing quality
health care to the AI/AN community
through outreach and education efforts
with a focus on improving Indian health
care, promoting awareness, visibility,
advocacy, training, technical assistance,
and education efforts. This program
includes the following seven
components, as described in this
announcement: ‘‘Line Item 128 Health
Education and Outreach funds;’’
‘‘Health Care Policy Analysis and
Review;’’ ‘‘Substance Abuse and Suicide
Prevention (SASP) program,’’ formerly
known as the Methamphetamine and
Suicide Prevention Initiative; ‘‘Domestic
Violence Prevention (DVP) program,’’
formerly known as the Domestic
Violence Prevention Initiative—national
awareness, visibility, advocacy,
outreach and education award; the
‘‘Human Immunodeficiency Virus/
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(HIV/AIDS)’’ outreach and education;
the ‘‘Special Diabetes Program for
Indians’’ (SDPI); the ‘‘Affordable Care
Act (ACA)’’; and the ‘‘Indian Health
Care Improvement Act (IHCIA).’’
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
National Indian Health Outreach and
Education
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Announcement Number:
HHS–2020–IHS–NIHOE–0001.
Assistance Listing (Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance or CFDA) Number:
93.933.
Key Dates
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is
accepting applications for a cooperative
agreement for the National Indian
Health Outreach and Education
program. This program is authorized
under: The Snyder Act, 25 U.S.C. 13;
the Transfer Act, 42 U.S.C. 2001; the
Indian Health Care Improvement Act at
25 U.S.C. 1621b; and Section 330C of
the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C.
254c–3. The HIV/AIDS Outreach and
Education component is funded by the
Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Health (OASH), HHS, and is being made
available through an intra-Departmental
Delegation of Authority (IDDA) to IHS to
award funding to be carried out
pursuant to Section 301 of the Public
Health Service Act. This program is
described in the Assistance Listings
located at https://beta.sam.gov (formerly
known as Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance) under 93.933.
Background
The Indian Health Service is
committed to providing quality health
care, consistent with its statutory
authorities and its government-togovernment relationship with each
Indian tribe. The IHS mission is to raise
the physical, mental, social and
spiritual health of American Indians
and Alaska Natives to the highest level.
To further mission success, the IHS
seeks support on a national scale. The
IHS serves as the principal federal
health care provider and health
advocate for approximately 2.6 million
American Indians and Alaska Natives
from 574 federally recognized Tribes in
37 states, through a network of over 605
hospitals, clinics and health stations on
or near Indian reservations and
predominantly in rural locations. Tribes
administer over half of the annual IHS
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II. Award Information
Funding Instrument
Cooperative Agreement.
Estimated Funds Available
The total funding identified for fiscal
year (FY) 2020 is approximately
$842,311. The award amount for the
first budget year is anticipated to be
between $246,311 and $842,311.
$246,311 is estimated for Line Item 128
Health Education and Outreach (this
amount could vary based on Tribal
shares assumptions); $125,000 for the
Health Care Policy Analysis and
Review; $150,000 for activities related
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[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 26, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31521-31522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11158]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary
Findings of Research Misconduct
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Findings of research misconduct have been made against Mr.
Logan Fulford (Respondent), who was a graduate research assistant,
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), and former
graduate student, University of Cincinnati (UC). Mr. Fulford engaged in
research misconduct in research supported by National Cancer Institute
(NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant R01 CA142724 and
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH, grant R01
HL084151. The administrative actions, including supervision for a
period of two (2) years, were implemented beginning on May 8, 2020, and
are detailed below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elisabeth A. Handley, Director, Office
of Research Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 240, Rockville, MD
20852, (240) 453-8200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that the Office of
Research Integrity (ORI) has taken final action in the following case:
Mr. Logan Fulford, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center:
Based on the report of an investigation conducted by CCHMC and
additional analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, ORI found
that Mr. Logan Fulford, former graduate research assistant, CCHMC, and
former graduate student, UC, engaged in research misconduct in research
supported by NCI, NIH, grant R01 CA142724 and NHLBI, NIH, grant R01
HL084151.
Respondent neither admits nor denies ORI's findings of research
misconduct; the settlement is not an admission of liability on the part
of the Respondent. The parties entered into a Voluntary Settlement
Agreement (Agreement) to conclude this matter without further
expenditure of time, finances, or other resources.
ORI found that Respondent engaged in research misconduct by
intentionally, knowingly, and/or recklessly falsifying data that were
included in:
The transcription factor FOXF1 promotes prostate cancer by
stimulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK5. Science
Signaling 2016 May;9:427 (hereafter referred to as ``Science Signaling
2016'').
Foxf1 Deficient Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Promote
Prostate Cancer Progression via Paracrine Wnt11 Signaling. Unpublished
manuscript (hereafter referred to as the ``unpublished manuscript'').
ORI found that Respondent intentionally, knowingly, and/or
recklessly falsified immunohistochemistry and western blot data
included in Science Signaling 2016 and in an unpublished manuscript, by
reusing and relabeling images to represent the expression of different
proteins and/or different experimental conditions. Specifically:
In Figure 2C of Science Signaling 2016, Respondent reused one
immunohistochemistry image, to represent Cle casp-3 expression in Myc-
CaP tumors under both Control and FoxF1-OE conditions and used another
immunohistochemistry image to represent Cle casp-3 expression in TRAMP
tumors under both Control and FoxF1-OE conditions
in Figure S4E of Science Signaling 2016, Respondent reused and
relabeled western blot panels to represent the expression of multiple
different proteins under different experimental conditions.
Specifically:
--Respondent used different exposures of the source blot to
represent FOXF1 or WNK1 expression in 22RV1 tumors transfected with
scramble RNA or shFOXF1, or pERK5 expression in C4-2B tumors
transfected with scramble RNA or shFOXF1
--Respondent used different exposures and size scaling of the
source blot to represent MAP3K2 or pERK5 expression in 22RV1 tumors
transfected with scramble RNA or shFOXF1 or FOXF1 or WNK1 expression in
C4-2B tumors transfected with scramble RNA or shFOXF1, or FOXF1 or WNK1
expression in C4-2B tumors transfected with scramble or shFOXF1
--Respondent used background lightening/darkening and size scaling
of the source blot to represent [beta]-ACTIN expression in 22RV1 tumors
transfected with scramble or shFOXF1, or Total ERK5 expression in C4-2B
tumors transfected with scramble RNA or shFOXF1
--Respondent used size scaling and rotation of the source blot to
represent Total ERK5 in 22RV1 tumors transfected with scramble RNA or
shFOXF1, or [beta]-ACTIN expression in C4-2B tumors transfected with
scramble RNA or shFOXF1
in Figure 7C of Science Signaling 2016, Respondent reused and
relabeled one source western blot panel to represent the expression of
different proteins in the presence of FOXF1 overexpression.
Specifically:
--different exposures, size scaling, and rotation of the same blot
were used to represent [beta]-Actin, pERK5, Total ERK, and MAP3K2
expression in FOXF1-overexpressing Myc-CaP tumors transduced with
scramble RNA, shMAP3K2 RNA, shWNK1, or both
in Figure S3B of Science Signaling 2016, Respondent spliced,
size scaled, and rotated the source western blot representing
expression of Erk5 in TRAMP tumors and represented it as both pERK5 and
Total ERK5 expression in TRAMP tumors under both control and FOXF1-OE
conditions
in Figure 3B of the unpublished manuscript, Respondent
fabricated the data to falsely represent the upregulation of Wnt11 mRNA
in human fibroblasts from prostate cancer samples, compared to those
from normal patient samples
in Figures 3F and S8 of the unpublished manuscript, Respondent
reused and relabeled source western blot panels representing Wnt11
expression in HeLa (cervical cancer) to represent Wnt11 expression in
MDA-MB-231 fibroblasts (prostate cancer)
As a result of the investigation, Science Signaling 2016 was retracted
in: Science Signaling 2018 Jul;11:541.
Mr. Fulford entered into an Agreement and agreed to the following:
(1) Respondent agreed to have his research supervised for a period
of two (2) years beginning on May 8, 2020. Respondent agreed that prior
to the submission of an application for U.S. Public Health Service
(PHS) support for a project on which 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
[[Page 31522]]
supervision plan must be designed to ensure the scientific integrity of
Respondent's research contribution. Respondent agreed that he shall 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) The requirements for Respondent's supervision plan are as
follows:
i. A committee of 2-3 senior faculty members at the institution who
are familiar with Respondent's field of research, but not including
Respondent's supervisor or collaborators, will provide oversight and
guidance for two (2) years from the effective date of the Agreement.
The committee will review primary data from Respondent's laboratory on
a quarterly basis and submit a report to ORI at six (6) month
intervals, setting forth the committee meeting dates and Respondent's
compliance with appropriate research standards and confirming the
integrity of Respondent's research.
ii. The committee will conduct an advance review of any PHS grant
applications (including supplements, resubmissions, etc.), manuscripts
reporting PHS-funded research submitted for publication, and abstracts.
The review will include a discussion with Respondent of the primary
data represented in those documents and will include a certification to
ORI that the data presented in the proposed application/publication is
supported by the research record.
(3) If no supervisory plan is provided to ORI, Respondent agreed to
provide certification to ORI at the conclusion of the supervision
period that he has not engaged in, applied for, or had his name
included on any application, proposal, or other request for PHS funds
without prior notification to ORI.
(4) Respondent agreed 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 May 8,
2020.
Dated: May 19, 2020.
Elisabeth A. Handley,
Director, Office of Research Integrity, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Health.
[FR Doc. 2020-11158 Filed 5-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-31-P
