Findings of Research Misconduct, 52158-52160 [2021-20268]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
52158
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 179 / Monday, September 20, 2021 / Notices
4. Savanna Starkey on behalf of The Estate
of R. S., Deceased, Brandenburg, Kentucky,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1646V
5. Joseph Delory, West Des Moines, Iowa,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1648V
6. David Vazquez-Gonzalez, San Juan, Puerto
Rico, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1649V
7. Emyli Ferguson and Jeremy Ferguson on
behalf of J. F., Glendale, Arizona, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1650V
8. Jeffrey Sears and Brittney Sears on behalf
of G. S., Roseville, New York, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1651V
9. Jennifer L. Portock, Virginia Beach,
Virginia, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1653V
10. Weldon Wilson, Scottsdale, Arizona,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1655V
11. Barbie Willett, Tyler, Texas, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1656V
12. Deborah Beckwith, Louisville, Kentucky,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1660V
13. Anthony Flores, Lovington, New Mexico,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1661V
14. Louis Post, Poughkeepsie, New York,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1662V
15. Chris Van Hulse, Jr., Phoenix, Arizona,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1663V
16. Michelle Azzopardi, Dearborn, Michigan,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1668V
17. Deborah Loring, Keene, New Hampshire,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1670V
18. John Mohnal, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, Court of Federal Claims No:
21–1671V
19. Steven Brooks, Oshkosh, Wisconsin,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1672V
20. Sheila Cullen, Washington, District of
Columbia, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1673V
21. Melanie Worsley, Topeka, Kansas, Court
of Federal Claims No: 21–1674V
22. Elizabeth Sears, Lawrenceville, New
Jersey, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1677V
23. Amy Gray, Boise, Idaho, Court of Federal
Claims No: 21–1678V
24. Darlene E. Milne, Bellevue, Washington,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1679V
25. Krista Elvin O’Brien and Robert O’Brien
on behalf of M. O., Phoenix, Arizona, Court
of Federal Claims No: 21–1680V
26. Alyssa Huber, Columbia, Tennessee,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1681V
27. Ileana Matta on behalf of I. R., Boston,
Massachusetts, Court of Federal Claims No:
21–1682V
28. Cori Rivas, Peoria, Illinois, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1683V
29. Chelsea Pomponio, Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, Court of Federal Claims No:
21–1687V
30. Keith Tillman, Salt Lake City, Utah, Court
of Federal Claims No: 21–1688V
31. Kyle Pappas, Indianapolis, Indiana, Court
of Federal Claims No: 21–1690V
32. Gregory Petraco, Port Jefferson Station,
New York, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1691V
33. Karrolee Tomchak, Santa Monica,
California, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1696V
34. Robert M. Claypool, Lancaster, Ohio,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1697V
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:49 Sep 17, 2021
Jkt 253001
35. E. R. Hightower-Newell on behalf of R. B.
Newell, North Las Vegas, Nevada, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1698V
36. Ryan Sughrue, West Windsor, New
Jersey, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1699V
37. Arturo Vasquez, II, Phoenix, Arizona,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1700V
38. Michelle Johnson, Springdale, Ohio,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1707V
39. Rhonda Bryan, Tomball, Texas, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1708V
40. Pamela Lewis-Nunez, Redondo Beach,
California, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1709V
41. Nancy Olivo, Glendale, New York, Court
of Federal Claims No: 21–1710V
42. Christopher Hudson, Rockledge, Florida,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1711V
43. Melissa B. Shine, Morehead City, North
Carolina, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1717V
44. Richard J. Tumas, Charlotte, North
Carolina, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1718V
45. Yvette Moyler, Columbus, Ohio, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1720V
46. Michael Ritchey and Monica Ritchey on
behalf of G. R., Little Rock, Arkansas, Court
of Federal Claims No: 21–1724V
47. Nadine Robbins, Hyde Park, New York,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1726V
48. Rivka Iliovits and Mordechie Iliovits on
behalf of L. I., Staten Island, New York,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1727V
49. Stephanie Felix and Ashton Felix on
behalf of E. A. F., Bonita, California, Court
of Federal Claims No: 21–1728V
50. Jill Shanti Zinzi, Phoenix, Arizona, Court
of Federal Claims No: 21–1729V
51. Rebekah Schaffer, Cheyenne, Wyoming,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1731V
52. Lori Wilson on behalf of A. W., Phoenix,
Arizona, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1732V
53. Katherine Miller, Huntingtown,
Maryland, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1733V
54. Paige Graves on behalf of D. G.,
Bartonville, Texas, Court of Federal Claims
No: 21–1734V
55. Paloma Flood, Oviedo, Florida, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1738V
56. David D. Bronson, Rancho Santa
Margarita, California, Court of Federal
Claims No: 21–1741V
57. Robert Zampitella, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, Court of Federal Claims No:
21–1743V
58. Aina Rizvi, Phoenix, Arizona, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1744V
59. Claire Panella, Stuart, Florida, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1748V
60. Deborah Hammond, East Norriton,
Pennsylvania, Court of Federal Claims No:
21–1749V
61. Monique Coombes, Boise, Idaho, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1750V
62. Dr. Michelle Perez, Stratford,
Connecticut, Court of Federal Claims No:
21–1753V
63. Matthew Rivera, Pembroke Pines, Florida,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1754V
64. Wendy Miller, Torrington, Connecticut,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1756V
65. Nancy Sorge, Monroe, Connecticut, Court
of Federal Claims No: 21–1759V
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
66. Monica Godoy, Seattle, Washington,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1760V
67. Christy Bright, Houston, Texas, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1761V
68. Barton Bond, Fayetteville, Georgia, Court
of Federal Claims No: 21–1764V
69. Mary Jo Drcar, Mentor, Ohio, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1766V
70. Justin Boggs, Wellesley Hills,
Massachusetts, Court of Federal Claims No:
21–1767V
71. Robert Schenck, Spring Hill, Florida,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1768V
72. Amarah Elzabad, Boston, Massachusetts,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1771V
73. Silvia Bavli, Phoenix, Arizona, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1772V
74. Felicia R. Williams, St. Louis, Missouri,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1774V
75. Fazal Siddiqui, Chicago, Illinois, Court of
Federal Claims No: 21–1776V
76. Tommy E. Martin, Mt. Holly, North
Carolina, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1777V
77. Lynn Peterson, Waukesha, Wisconsin,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1778V
78. Bailey Thomas on behalf of A. B.,
Englewood, New Jersey, Court of Federal
Claims No: 21–1780V
79. Anita Richardson, Pensacola, Florida,
Court of Federal Claims No: 21–1781V
80. Leah Gonzalez-Guzman, White Plains,
New York, Court of Federal Claims No: 21–
1782V
[FR Doc. 2021–20233 Filed 9–17–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165–15–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 Ya
Wang, M.D., Ph.D. (Respondent), retired
Professor and Director, Division of
Experimental Radiation Oncology,
Department of Radiation Oncology,
Winship Cancer Institute, Emory
University (EU). Respondent engaged in
research misconduct in research
supported by U.S. Public Health Service
(PHS) funds, specifically National
Cancer Institute (NCI), National
Institutes of Health (NIH), grants P30
CA138292 and R01 CA186129 and
National Institute of General Medical
Sciences (NIGMS), NIH, grant R01
GM080771. The administrative actions,
including debarment for a period of four
(4) years, were implemented beginning
on August 4, 2021, and are detailed
below.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Wanda K. Jones, Dr. P.H., Acting
Director, Office of Research Integrity,
E:\FR\FM\20SEN1.SGM
20SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 179 / Monday, September 20, 2021 / Notices
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:
Ya Wang, M.D., Ph.D., Emory
University: Based on the report of an
inquiry conducted by EU and analysis
conducted by ORI in its oversight
review, ORI found that Dr. Ya Wang,
retired Professor and Director, Division
of Experimental Radiation Oncology,
Department of Radiation Oncology,
Winship Cancer Institute, EU, engaged
in research misconduct in research
supported by PHS funds, specifically
NCI, NIH, grants P30 CA138292 and R01
CA186129 and NIGMS, NIH, grant R01
GM080771.
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
Exclusion Agreement to conclude this
matter without further expenditure of
time, finances, or other resources.
ORI found that Respondent engaged
in research misconduct by knowingly,
intentionally, and/or recklessly
falsifying data that were included in the
following one (1) PHS grant application
and six (6) published papers:
• R21 HL154577–01, ‘‘GPRC5A
Inhibits Error-Prone Repair to Maintain
Lung Genomic Integrity,’’ submitted to
the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute (NHLBI), NIH, on December 13,
2019.
• miR–21-Mediated Radioresistance
Occurs via Promoting Repair of DNA
Double Strand Breaks. J Biol Chem. 2017
Feb 24;292(8):3531–40; doi: 10.1074/
jbc.M116.772392 (hereafter referred to
as ‘‘J Biol Chem. 2017’’). Retraction in:
J Biol Chem. 2020 May 1;295(18):6250;
doi: 10.1074/jbc.W120.013725.
• Distinct Roles of Ape1 Protein, an
Enzyme Involved in DNA Repair, in
High or Low Linear Energy Transfer
Ionizing Radiation-Induced Cell Killing.
J Biol Chem. 2014 Oct 31;
289(44):30635–44; doi: 10.1074/
jbc.M114.604959 (hereafter referred to
as ‘‘J Biol Chem. 2014’’). Retraction in:
J Biol Chem. 2020 May 1;295(18):6249;
doi: 10.1074/jbc.W120.013724.
• OCT4 as a Target of miR–34a
Stimulates p63 but Inhibits p53 to
Promote Human Cell Transformation.
Cell Death Dis. 2014 Jan 23;5(1):e1024;
doi: 10.1038/cddis.2013.563 (hereafter
referred to as ‘‘Cell Death Dis. 2014’’).
• MicroRNA–21 Modulates the Levels
of Reactive Oxygen Species by Targeting
SOD3 and TNFa. Cancer Res. 2012 Sep
15;72(18):4707–13; doi: 10.1158/0008–
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:49 Sep 17, 2021
Jkt 253001
5472.CAN–12–0639 (hereafter referred
to as ‘‘Cancer Res. 2012a’’).
• RNAi-Mediated Targeting of
Noncoding and Coding Sequences in
DNA Repair Gene Messages Efficiently
Radiosensitizes Human Tumor Cells.
Cancer Res. 2012 Mar 1; 72(5):1221–8;
doi: 10.1158/0008–5472.CAN–11–2785
(hereafter referred to as ‘‘Cancer Res.
2012b’’).
• Over-Expression of miR–100 is
Responsible for the Low-Expression of
ATM in the Human Glioma Cell Line:
M059J. DNA Repair (Amst). 2010 Nov
10;9(11):1170–5; doi: 10.1016/
j.dnarep.2010.08.007 (hereafter referred
to as ‘‘DNA Repair 2010’’).
ORI found that respondent
knowingly, intentionally, and/or
recklessly falsified protein immunoblot
data by reusing and relabeling the same
images to represent different
experimental conditions in mammalian
tissue culture models of DNA damage
and repair in eighteen (18) figure panels
in eleven (11) figures in one (1) grant
application and six (6) published
papers.
Specifically:
• Western blot images for total
protein expression in distinct transgenic
mouse cell lines were falsified by
reusing immunoblot bands and
relabeling them to represent different
experiments in eleven (11) figure panels
in two (2) papers, including:
—Figure 3D in J Biol Chem. 2017,
representing b-actin expression (left
side panel) in wildtype (WT),
microRNA–21 (miR–21) knock-in, and
miR–21¥/¥ mouse embryonic
fibroblast (MEF) cells exposed to
irradiation
—Figure 4C in J Biol Chem. 2017,
representing DNA–PKcs expression in
miR–21 knock-in MEF cells exposed
to irradiation
—Figure 5A in J Biol Chem. 2017,
representing CDC25A and b-actin
expression in WT, GSK3B¥/¥, and
Cyclin D1¥/¥ MEF cells transfected
with control or gene-specific silencing
RNA (siRNA)
—Figure 1 in J Biol Chem. 2014,
representing b-actin expression in
Ku80¥/¥ (Figure 1A) and Ogg1¥/¥
(Figure 1C) MEF cells transfected with
expression or control vectors
—Figure 3 in J Biol Chem. 2014,
representing H2A expression in WT
MEF (Figure 3A), Ku80¥/¥ MEF
(Figure 3B), Ogg1¥/¥ MEF (Figure
3C), and Ogg1+ (rescue) MEF (Figure
3D) cells transfected with expression
or control vectors and in the absence
or presence of radiation exposure
—Figure 3D in J Biol Chem. 2014,
representing Mre11 (left panel)
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
52159
expression in Ogg1+ (rescue) MEF
cells transfected with expression or
control vectors in the absence or
presence of radiation exposure
—Figure 4B in J Biol Chem. 2014,
representing Mre11 expression in
Ogg1¥/¥ MEF cells with control or
Ape1 expression vector in the
presence of low or high linear energy
transfer (LET) irradiation
—Figure 5C in J Biol Chem. 2014,
representing Ape1 and b-actin
expression in WT MEF cells with or
without gene depletion and
transfected with control or various
Ape1 expression vectors
• western blot images for total protein
expression in human cell lines subject
to gene depletion and/or overexpression
were falsified by reusing immunoblot
bands and relabeling them to represent
different experiments in seven (7) figure
panels in five (5) papers and one (1)
grant application, including:
—Figure 4A in NIH grant application
R21 HL154577–01, representing
GPRC5A levels in different patientderived cell lines with gene
suppression or depletion
—Figure 4D in J Biol Chem. 2017,
representing total DNA–PKcs,
phosphorylated DNA–PKcs, CDC25A,
and GSK3B levels in human
embryonic kidney cells transfected
with controls or various expression
vectors and/or miR–21 mimics
—Figure 5C in J Biol Chem. 2017,
representing CDC25A, GSK3B, Cyclin
D1, and b-actin expression in human
embryonic kidney cells with or
without gene depletion and
transfected with controls or miR–21
mimics
—Figure 5B in Cell Death Dis. 2014,
representing p53 and p63 levels in
human lung epithelial cells with or
without gene depletion
—Figure 3A in Cancer Res. 2012a,
representing TNFa levels in control
and miR–21 overexpressing human
lung epithelial cells at different time
points following irradiation
—Figure 5A in Cancer Res. 2012b,
representing XRCC4 levels in both
human lung and brain epithelial cells
with gene depletion at multiple time
points and treated with or without an
artificial microRNA
—Figure 3A in DNA Repair 2010,
representing ATM and Ku70 levels in
human glioblastoma-derived cells
with or without gene depletion
• western blot images for proteins
from chromatin DNA complexes in
mouse cell lines transfected with
control or expression vectors and in the
absence or presence of irradiation were
falsified by reusing immunoblot bands
E:\FR\FM\20SEN1.SGM
20SEN1
52160
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 179 / Monday, September 20, 2021 / Notices
and relabeling them to represent
different experiments in three (3) figure
panels in one (1) paper, including:
—Figure 3 in J Biol Chem. 2014,
representing chromatin-bound gH2AX levels in WT MEF (Figure 3A),
Ogg1¥/¥ MEF (Figure 3C), and Ogg1+
(rescue) MEF (Figure 3D) cells
transfected with a control or
expression vector and in the absence
or presence of irradiation
Dr. Wang entered into a Voluntary
Exclusion Agreement (Agreement) and
voluntarily agreed to the following:
(1) Respondent agreed to exclude
herself voluntarily for a period of four
(4) years beginning on August 4, 2021,
from any contracting or subcontracting
with any agency of the United States
Government and from eligibility for or
involvement in nonprocurement
programs of the United States
Government referred to as ‘‘covered
transactions’’ pursuant to HHS’
Implementation (2 CFR part 376) of
OMB Guidelines to Agencies on
Governmentwide Debarment and
Suspension, 2 CFR part 180 (collectively
the ‘‘Debarment Regulations’’).
(2) Respondent agreed 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
a period of four (4) years, beginning on
August 4, 2021.
(3) As a condition of the Agreement,
Respondent will request that the
following papers be corrected or
retracted in accordance with 42 CFR
93.407(a)(1) and § 93.411(b):
• Cell Death Dis. 2014 Jan;5(1):e1024
• Cancer Res. 2012 Sep 15;72(18):4707–
13
• Cancer Res. 2012 Mar 1;72(5):1221–8
• DNA Repair (Amst). 2010 Nov
10;9(11):1170–5
Respondent will copy ORI and the
Research Integrity Officer at EU on the
correspondence.
Dated: September 15, 2021.
Wanda K. Jones,
Acting Director, Office of Research Integrity,
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.
[FR Doc. 2021–20268 Filed 9–17–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150–31–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:49 Sep 17, 2021
Jkt 253001
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
[Document Identifier: OS–0990–xxxx]
Agency Father Generic Information
Collection Request. 60-Day Public
Comment Request
Office of the Secretary, Health
and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: 60-Day notice of public
information collections.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
requirement of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the
Secretary (OS), Department of Health
and Human Services, is publishing the
following summary of a proposed
collection for public comment.
DATES: Comments on the ICR must be
received on or before November 19,
2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to
Sherrette.Funn@hhs.gov or by calling
(202) 795–7714.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
When submitting comments or
requesting information, please include
the document identifier 0990-New-60D,
and project title for reference, to
Sherrette Funn, the Reports Clearance
Officer, Sherrette.funn@hhs.gov, or call
202–795–7714.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested
persons are invited to send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any
other aspect of this collection of
information, including any of the
following subjects: (1) The necessity and
utility of the proposed information
collection for the proper performance of
the agency’s functions; (2) the accuracy
of the estimated burden; (3) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
(4) the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology to minimize the information
collection burden.
Title of the Collection: Evaluation of
the National Hypertension Control
Initiative (NHCI).
Type of Collection: NEW Generic.
SUMMARY:
OMB No. 0990—OS/Office of Minority
Health (OMH)
Abstract: As part of the federal
response to COVID–19, the U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) has funded a new
initiative involving two cooperative
agreements with the American Heart
Association (AHA) to improve COVID–
19-related health outcomes by
addressing hypertension (high blood
pressure) among racial and ethnic
minority populations.
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The $32 million project from the HHS
Office of Minority Health (OMH) and
the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) Bureau of
Primary Health Care will support the
implementation of the National
Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI),
a national initiative to improve blood
pressure control among the most at-risk
populations, including racial and ethnic
minorities.
The NHCI will support 350
participating HRSA-funded health
centers by providing patient and
provider education and training for
effective hypertension control as well as
integration of remote blood pressure
monitoring technology into the
treatment of hypertension for patients
served by participating health centers.
The project will also utilize the
American Heart Association’s targeted
media campaigns and existing
partnerships with community-based
organizations (CBOs) to help reach
Black, Latino, and other impacted
communities with (i) culturally and
linguistically appropriate messages, (ii)
access to blood pressure screenings, and
(iii) connection to health centers to
encourage proper treatment and
management of hypertension of
screened individuals. This initiative
serves to increase the number of adult
patients with controlled hypertension
and reduce the potential risk of COVIDrelated health outcomes.
AHA aims to conduct an evaluation to
assess the feasibility of the
implementation of each of the three
NHCI strategies. The findings of this
evaluation will inform the improvement
and tailoring of AHA’s communication
approaches about the importance of and
techniques for improving blood pressure
control, including the benefits of
accurately measuring, rapidly acting,
and having a patient-focused approach
to blood pressure control.
Methodology: The evaluation of the
NHCI project will use a mixed methods
design, integrating both quantitative and
qualitative data collection and analyses.
Three main goals of data collection will
be to: (1) Track and monitor systems
change implementation process
information from Community Health
Centers (CHCs) on a quarterly basis, (2)
assess the capacity of NHCI partners to
implement the NHCI project, their
needs, the strengths and weaknesses of
the systems change approach, and the
feasibility of the implementation of the
NHCI in their organizations and
communities, and (3) assess the reach
and success of NHCI project strategies
implemented by partners.
E:\FR\FM\20SEN1.SGM
20SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 179 (Monday, September 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52158-52160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20268]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Ya
Wang, M.D., Ph.D. (Respondent), retired Professor and Director,
Division of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation
Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University (EU). Respondent
engaged in research misconduct in research supported by U.S. Public
Health Service (PHS) funds, specifically National Cancer Institute
(NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grants P30 CA138292 and R01
CA186129 and National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS),
NIH, grant R01 GM080771. The administrative actions, including
debarment for a period of four (4) years, were implemented beginning on
August 4, 2021, and are detailed below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wanda K. Jones, Dr. P.H., Acting
Director, Office of Research Integrity,
[[Page 52159]]
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:
Ya Wang, M.D., Ph.D., Emory University: Based on the report of an
inquiry conducted by EU and analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight
review, ORI found that Dr. Ya Wang, retired Professor and Director,
Division of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation
Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, EU, engaged in research misconduct
in research supported by PHS funds, specifically NCI, NIH, grants P30
CA138292 and R01 CA186129 and NIGMS, NIH, grant R01 GM080771.
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 Exclusion
Agreement to conclude this matter without further expenditure of time,
finances, or other resources.
ORI found that Respondent engaged in research misconduct by
knowingly, intentionally, and/or recklessly falsifying data that were
included in the following one (1) PHS grant application and six (6)
published papers:
R21 HL154577-01, ``GPRC5A Inhibits Error-Prone Repair to
Maintain Lung Genomic Integrity,'' submitted to the National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH, on December 13, 2019.
miR-21-Mediated Radioresistance Occurs via Promoting
Repair of DNA Double Strand Breaks. J Biol Chem. 2017 Feb
24;292(8):3531-40; doi: 10.1074/jbc.M116.772392 (hereafter referred to
as ``J Biol Chem. 2017''). Retraction in: J Biol Chem. 2020 May
1;295(18):6250; doi: 10.1074/jbc.W120.013725.
Distinct Roles of Ape1 Protein, an Enzyme Involved in DNA
Repair, in High or Low Linear Energy Transfer Ionizing Radiation-
Induced Cell Killing. J Biol Chem. 2014 Oct 31; 289(44):30635-44; doi:
10.1074/jbc.M114.604959 (hereafter referred to as ``J Biol Chem.
2014''). Retraction in: J Biol Chem. 2020 May 1;295(18):6249; doi:
10.1074/jbc.W120.013724.
OCT4 as a Target of miR-34a Stimulates p63 but Inhibits
p53 to Promote Human Cell Transformation. Cell Death Dis. 2014 Jan
23;5(1):e1024; doi: 10.1038/cddis.2013.563 (hereafter referred to as
``Cell Death Dis. 2014'').
MicroRNA-21 Modulates the Levels of Reactive Oxygen
Species by Targeting SOD3 and TNF[alpha]. Cancer Res. 2012 Sep
15;72(18):4707-13; doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-12-0639 (hereafter
referred to as ``Cancer Res. 2012a'').
RNAi-Mediated Targeting of Noncoding and Coding Sequences
in DNA Repair Gene Messages Efficiently Radiosensitizes Human Tumor
Cells. Cancer Res. 2012 Mar 1; 72(5):1221-8; doi: 10.1158/0008-
5472.CAN-11-2785 (hereafter referred to as ``Cancer Res. 2012b'').
Over-Expression of miR-100 is Responsible for the Low-
Expression of ATM in the Human Glioma Cell Line: M059J. DNA Repair
(Amst). 2010 Nov 10;9(11):1170-5; doi: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2010.08.007
(hereafter referred to as ``DNA Repair 2010'').
ORI found that respondent knowingly, intentionally, and/or
recklessly falsified protein immunoblot data by reusing and relabeling
the same images to represent different experimental conditions in
mammalian tissue culture models of DNA damage and repair in eighteen
(18) figure panels in eleven (11) figures in one (1) grant application
and six (6) published papers.
Specifically:
Western blot images for total protein expression in
distinct transgenic mouse cell lines were falsified by reusing
immunoblot bands and relabeling them to represent different experiments
in eleven (11) figure panels in two (2) papers, including:
--Figure 3D in J Biol Chem. 2017, representing [beta]-actin expression
(left side panel) in wildtype (WT), microRNA-21 (miR-21) knock-in, and
miR-21-/- mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells exposed to
irradiation
--Figure 4C in J Biol Chem. 2017, representing DNA-PKcs expression in
miR-21 knock-in MEF cells exposed to irradiation
--Figure 5A in J Biol Chem. 2017, representing CDC25A and [beta]-actin
expression in WT, GSK3B-/-, and Cyclin D1-/- MEF
cells transfected with control or gene-specific silencing RNA (siRNA)
--Figure 1 in J Biol Chem. 2014, representing [beta]-actin expression
in Ku80-/- (Figure 1A) and Ogg1-/- (Figure 1C)
MEF cells transfected with expression or control vectors
--Figure 3 in J Biol Chem. 2014, representing H2A expression in WT MEF
(Figure 3A), Ku80-/- MEF (Figure 3B), Ogg1-/- MEF
(Figure 3C), and Ogg1\+\ (rescue) MEF (Figure 3D) cells transfected
with expression or control vectors and in the absence or presence of
radiation exposure
--Figure 3D in J Biol Chem. 2014, representing Mre11 (left panel)
expression in Ogg1\+\ (rescue) MEF cells transfected with expression or
control vectors in the absence or presence of radiation exposure
--Figure 4B in J Biol Chem. 2014, representing Mre11 expression in
Ogg1-/- MEF cells with control or Ape1 expression vector in
the presence of low or high linear energy transfer (LET) irradiation
--Figure 5C in J Biol Chem. 2014, representing Ape1 and [beta]-actin
expression in WT MEF cells with or without gene depletion and
transfected with control or various Ape1 expression vectors
western blot images for total protein expression in human
cell lines subject to gene depletion and/or overexpression were
falsified by reusing immunoblot bands and relabeling them to represent
different experiments in seven (7) figure panels in five (5) papers and
one (1) grant application, including:
--Figure 4A in NIH grant application R21 HL154577-01, representing
GPRC5A levels in different patient-derived cell lines with gene
suppression or depletion
--Figure 4D in J Biol Chem. 2017, representing total DNA-PKcs,
phosphorylated DNA-PKcs, CDC25A, and GSK3B levels in human embryonic
kidney cells transfected with controls or various expression vectors
and/or miR-21 mimics
--Figure 5C in J Biol Chem. 2017, representing CDC25A, GSK3B, Cyclin
D1, and [beta]-actin expression in human embryonic kidney cells with or
without gene depletion and transfected with controls or miR-21 mimics
--Figure 5B in Cell Death Dis. 2014, representing p53 and p63 levels in
human lung epithelial cells with or without gene depletion
--Figure 3A in Cancer Res. 2012a, representing TNF[alpha] levels in
control and miR-21 overexpressing human lung epithelial cells at
different time points following irradiation
--Figure 5A in Cancer Res. 2012b, representing XRCC4 levels in both
human lung and brain epithelial cells with gene depletion at multiple
time points and treated with or without an artificial microRNA
--Figure 3A in DNA Repair 2010, representing ATM and Ku70 levels in
human glioblastoma-derived cells with or without gene depletion
western blot images for proteins from chromatin DNA
complexes in mouse cell lines transfected with control or expression
vectors and in the absence or presence of irradiation were falsified by
reusing immunoblot bands
[[Page 52160]]
and relabeling them to represent different experiments in three (3)
figure panels in one (1) paper, including:
--Figure 3 in J Biol Chem. 2014, representing chromatin-bound [gamma]-
H2AX levels in WT MEF (Figure 3A), Ogg1-/- MEF (Figure 3C),
and Ogg1\+\ (rescue) MEF (Figure 3D) cells transfected with a control
or expression vector and in the absence or presence of irradiation
Dr. Wang entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement (Agreement)
and voluntarily agreed to the following:
(1) Respondent agreed to exclude herself voluntarily for a period
of four (4) years beginning on August 4, 2021, from any contracting or
subcontracting with any agency of the United States Government and from
eligibility for or involvement in nonprocurement programs of the United
States Government referred to as ``covered transactions'' pursuant to
HHS' Implementation (2 CFR part 376) of OMB Guidelines to Agencies on
Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension, 2 CFR part 180 (collectively
the ``Debarment Regulations'').
(2) Respondent agreed 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 a period of four (4) years, beginning on August 4,
2021.
(3) As a condition of the Agreement, Respondent will request that
the following papers be corrected or retracted in accordance with 42
CFR 93.407(a)(1) and Sec. 93.411(b):
Cell Death Dis. 2014 Jan;5(1):e1024
Cancer Res. 2012 Sep 15;72(18):4707-13
Cancer Res. 2012 Mar 1;72(5):1221-8
DNA Repair (Amst). 2010 Nov 10;9(11):1170-5
Respondent will copy ORI and the Research Integrity Officer at EU
on the correspondence.
Dated: September 15, 2021.
Wanda K. Jones,
Acting Director, Office of Research Integrity, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Health.
[FR Doc. 2021-20268 Filed 9-17-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-31-P
