[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 81 (Monday, April 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 22950]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10908]



[[Page 22950]]

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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) has made a final finding of scientific misconduct in the 
following case:
    Weidong Sun, M.D., Ph.D., Medical College of Pennsylvania and 
Hahnemann University: Based upon a report forwarded to the Office of 
Research Integrity (ORI) by the Medical College of Pennsylvania and 
Hahnemann University as well as information obtained by ORI during its 
oversight review, ORI found that Dr. Sun, a former graduate student in 
the Department of Physiology, Medical College of Pennsylvania and 
Hahnemann University, engaged in scientific misconduct by falsifying 
data in conducting and reporting research supported by a grant from the 
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 
(NIAMS), National Institutes of Health (NIH). The research also was 
reported in applications requesting funding from NIAMS and the National 
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH.
    Specifically, Dr. Sun falsified data by misrepresenting cloned DNA 
sequences from chicken non-muscle myosin as an isoform of neuronal 
myosin II from rat brain. The falsified cDNA was included in the 
following publications and nucleotide sequences in GenBank and EMBL 
databases:
     Sun, W.D., & Chantler, P.D. ``Cloning of the cDNA encoding 
a neuronal myosin heavy chain from mammalian brand and its differential 
expression within the central nervous system.'' Journal of Molecular 
Biology 224(4):1185-1193, 1992;
     Sun, W.D., & Chantler, P.D. ``A unique cellular myosin II 
exhibiting differential expression in the cerebral cortex.'' 
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 175(1):244-249, 
1991;
     Sun, W., Chen, X., & Chantler, P.D. ``Inhibition of 
neuritogenesis by antisense arrest of the expression of a specific 
isoform of brain myosin II.'' Journal of Muscle Research and Cell 
Motility 15:184-185, 1994;
     M64596, ``Rat myosin II mRNA, 3' end.'' [RETMYOSII];
     M80591, ``Rat neuronal myosin heavy chain mRNA, 3' end.'' 
[RATMYOH3E];
     M94962, ``Rattus rattus neuronal myosin heavy chain gene 
promoter sequence.'' [RATMYOPRO]; and
     X62659, S98128, ``R.rattus MRNA for brain neuronal myosin 
heavy chain.'' [RRNMYOHC].
    Retractions of the publications and deletions from the public data 
banks have been requested.
    Dr. Sun has accepted the ORI finding and has entered into a 
Voluntary Exclusion Agreement with ORI in which he has voluntarily 
agreed, for the three (3) year period beginning April 17, 1997:
    (1) To exclude himself from any contracting or subcontracting with 
any agency of the United States Government and from eligibility for, or 
involvement in, nonprocurement transactions (e.g., grants and 
cooperative agreements) of the United States Government as defined in 
45 CFR part 76 (Debarment Regulations); and
    (2) To exclude himself from serving in any advisory capacity to the 
Public Health Service (PHS), including but not limited to service on 
any PHS advisory committee, board, and/or peer review committee, or as 
a consultant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Acting Director, Division of Research 
Investigations, Office of Research Integrity, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 
700, Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 443-5330.
Chris B. Pascal,
Acting Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 97-10908 Filed 4-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-17-P