[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 198 (Friday, October 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 52137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25608]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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) and the Assistant Secretary for Health have taken final action in 
the following case:
    Steven F. Arnold, Ph.D., Tulane University: Based on the report of 
an investigation conducted by Tulane University, dated July 16, 1999, 
and additional analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, the 
U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) found that Dr. Arnold, former Research 
Assistant Professor at the Center for Bioenvironmental Research at 
Tulane University Medical Center, engaged in scientific misconduct. Dr. 
Arnold committed scientific misconduct by intentionally falsifying the 
research results reported in Table 3 of a paper published in the 
journal Science \1\ and by providing falsified and fabricated materials 
to investigating officials at Tulane University in response to a 
request for original data to support the research results and 
conclusions reported in the Science paper. In addition, PHS finds that 
there is no original data or other corroborating evidence to support 
the research results and conclusions reported in the Science paper as a 
whole.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Steven F. Arnold, Diane M. Klotz, Bridgette M. collins, 
Peter M. Vonier, Louis J. Guillette, Jr., John A. McLachlan. 
``Synergistic Activation of Estrogen Receptor with Combinations of 
Environmental Chemicals.'' Science 272:1489-1492 (June 7, 1996) 
(hereafter referred to as the ``Science paper'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Specifically, PHS finds that Dr. Arnold's research reported in the 
Science paper involved a finding that environmental chemicals, such as 
certain insecticides and hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 
which have a weak estrogenic activity when acting alone, were up to 
1000 times more potent in mimicking estrogen when tested in 
combination. These research results and conclusions were important to 
the public health because they suggested that the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) may need to adjust its guidelines on exposure 
limits to such chemicals. The Science paper was withdrawn on July 25, 
1997. See Science 277:462 (July 25, 1997).
    This research formed the basis of National Institute of Diabetes 
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of 
Health (NIH), grant application 1 R29 DK52420-01, ``Two Estrogen 
Binding Sites on the Estrogen Receptor.''
    Dr. Arnold has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement 
(Agreement) with PHS in which he has voluntarily agreed for a period of 
five (5) years, beginning on September 20, 2001:
    (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 C.F.R. Part 76 (Debarment Regulations);
    (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 a consultant.
    During discussions about the proposed Agreement, Dr. Arnold was 
cooperative with ORI and accepted responsibility for his actions, 
admitted to scientific misconduct, and conceded that there were no 
original data or other corroborating evidence to support the 
conclusions reported in the Science paper.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Division of Investigative 
Oversight, Office of Research Integrity, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 700, 
Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 443-5330.

Chris B. Pascal,
Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 01-25608 Filed 10-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-31-P