[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 161 (Wednesday, August 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44281-44282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22081]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Findings of Scientific Misconduct

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity 
(ORI) has made a final finding of scientific misconduct in the 
following case:
    Jill A. London, Ph.D., University of Connecticut Health Center: 
Based upon a report from the University of Connecticut Health Center as 
well as information obtained by the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) 
during its oversight review, ORI found that Dr. London, former 
Assistant Professor, Department of Biostructure and Function, School of 
Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, engaged in 
scientific misconduct by intentionally falsifying data in conjunction 
with applying for and reporting research supported by the National 
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National 
Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), 
National Institutes of Health (NIH).
    Specifically, ORI found that Dr. London's grant applications and 
articles contained numerous falsifications, including:
    (1) Figures 6, 7, and 8 in a paper (London, J.A. & Cohen, L.B. 
``High time resolution, multi-site optical measurement of vertebrate 
somatosensory cortex during epileptiform discharges and vertebrate 
gustatory cortex.'' Optical Methods in Neurobiology, pp. 61-78, 1988.) 
prepared for the 11th Annual Meeting of the European Neuroscience 
Association (hereafter referred to as the European Neuroscience paper) 
that cited support by NINDS, NIH grants R01 NS08437 and P01 NS16993;
    (2) Figure 1A in a paper (London, J.A., ``Optical recording of 
activity in the hamster gustatory cortex elicited by electrical 
stimulation of the tongue.'' Chemical Senses 15:137-143, 1990.) that 
cited support by NINDS, NIH grants R01 NS08437 and P01 NS16993; Figure 
1A was found to be very similar or identical to Figure 7 of the 
European Neuroscience paper in #1 above;
    (3) Figures 10 to 13 in grant application 2 P50 DC00168-14, 
``Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center,'' submitted to 
NIDCD, NIH on January 28, 1994; these figures also appear as Figures 4 
to 7 in grant application 2 P50 DC00168-14A1, submitted to NIDCD, NIH 
on September 28, 1994;
    (4) Figures 2, 8, and 9 in grant application 1 R01 DC01752-01, 
``Optical recording of hamster gustatory cortex activity,'' submitted 
to NIDCD, NIH on January 29, 1992; these figures were the same as 
Figures 11, 12, and 13, respectively, in grant application 2 P50 
DC00168-14 (see #3 above);
    (5) Figures supplied for Figures 1 and 3 in grant application 1 F32 
NS09601-01, ``Modular response patterns in hamster gustatory cortex,'' 
submitted to NINDS, NIH on August 3, 1993; these figures were the same 
as Figures 10 and 11, respectively, in grant application 2 P50 DC00168-
14 (see #3 above);
    (6) Figure 3 of a handout that Dr. London provided during an NIH 
site visit on April 25, 1994, conducted in conjunction with the review 
of grant application 2 P50 DC00168-14; the top and bottom portions of 
Figure 3 of the site visit handout were very similar or identical to 
Figures 6 and 7, respectively, of the European Neuroscience paper (see 
#1 above), and approximately 115 of the 125 traces appearing in each of 
the figures showed identities, with one or two ``active'' traces being 
identical;
    (7) Figures 1, 2, and 3 in a paper (London, J.A. & Wehby, R.G. 
``Classification of inhibitory responses of hamster gustatory cortex.'' 
Brain Research 666:270-274, 1994.) that cited support by NIDCD, NIH 
grants P50 DC00168 and T32 DC00025; and
    (8) Nine figures included in a manuscript (London, J.A. & Wehby, 
R.G. ``Excitatory neural responses in the hamster gustatory cortex.'' 
Submitted to Brain Research, 1996.) that cited support by NIDCD, NIH 
grants P50 DC00168 and T32 DC00025. Dr. London has accepted the ORI 
finding and has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement with ORI 
in which she has voluntarily agreed, for a period of five (5) years, 
beginning August 8, 1997:
    (1) To exclude herself 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 C.F.R. Part 76 (Debarment Regulations); and

[[Page 44282]]

    (2) To exclude herself 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. Dr. London is required to submit a letter to

     Chemical Senses requesting a retraction of the following 
article: London, J.A. ``Optical recording of activity in the hamster 
gustatory cortex elicited by electrical stimulation of the tongue.'' 
Chemical Senses 15:137-143, 1990;
     Brain Research requesting a retraction of the following 
article: London, J.A., & Wehby, R.G. ``Classification of inhibitory 
responses of the hamster gustatory cortex.'' Brain Research 666:270-
274, 1994; and
     Optical Methods in Neurobiology requesting a retraction of 
Section V, Results--Hamster of the following article: London, J.A., & 
Cohen, L.B. ``High time resolution, multi-site optical measurement of 
vertebrate somatosensory cortex during epileptiform discharges and 
vertebrate gustatory cortex.'' Optical Methods in Neurobiology, pp. 61-
78, 1988, prepared for the 11th Annual Meeting of the European 
Neuroscience Association.

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. 97-22081 Filed 8-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-17-P