[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38166-38167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10440]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Findings of Research 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) and the Assistant Secretary for Health have taken final action in 
the following case:
    Lingjie Zhao, University of Iowa: Based on the investigation 
reports drafted by the University of Iowa (UI) and additional analysis 
conducted by ORI in its oversight review, the U.S. Public Health 
Service (PHS) found that Lingjie Zhao, former Doctoral Student, UI, 
engaged in research misconduct. The research was supported by National 
Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant P01 
CA66081.

[[Page 38167]]

    PHS found that Ms. Zhao engaged in research misconduct by 
falsifying research records included in: (a) A manuscript submitted for 
publication in Cancer Research, (b) drafts of her work reported in the 
laboratory, and (c) drafts of her work reported to her dissertation 
committee. Specifically, PHS found:
    1. That Ms. Zhao darkened with a marking device the thioredoxin 
(Trx) band of Lanes 1 and 2 on the autoradiographic film that was to 
become part of Figure 9 of the manuscript.
    2. That Ms. Zhao (a) falsified this same original film of the 
western blot by darkening Lanes 1, 2, 4, and 5 with a marking device at 
the origin of the gel and (b) further falsified Figure 9 of the Cancer 
Research manuscript by claiming falsely that these marked bands were 
thioredoxin reductase (TR) untreated and with mismatch 
oligodeoxynucleotide in the presence and absence of tumor necrosis 
factor alpha.
    3. That Ms. Zhao falsified the glutathione reductase (GR) activity 
data in either Figure 4 or Figure 9 of the Cancer Research manuscript 
(the data are identical but stated to be from entirely different 
experimental conditions).
    4. That Ms. Zhao falsified the actin data in either Figure 4 or 
Figure 9 of the Cancer Research manuscript or in the experiments 
simultaneously using Prx III-As and Phospholipid hydroperoxide 
glutathione peroxidase-As reported in slide presentations (the actin 
data are identical under 3 entirely different experimental conditions).
    5. That Ms. Zhao falsified the manganese superoxide dismutase 
(MnSOD) data in either Figure 1A or Figure 4 of the Cancer Research 
manuscript (these MnSOD data are identical while being clearly 
described as coming from different experiments).
    6. That Ms. Zhao falsified the MnSOD data in Figure 2 of the Cancer 
Research manuscript by enhancing with a marking device Lanes 6 and 7, 
mismatch and antisense Prx oligos at 3 days of incubation (unmarked, 
Prx III-As decreased the expression of MnSOD).
    Ms. Zhao has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement in which 
she has voluntarily agreed, for a period of three (3) years, beginning 
on June 3, 2006:
    (1) To exclude herself from any contracting or subcontracting with 
any agency of the United States Government and from eligibility or 
involvement in nonprocurement programs of the United States Government 
as defined in the debarment regulations at 45 CFR part 76;
    (2) To exclude herself 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 consultant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Division of Investigative 
Oversight, Office of Research Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 
750, Rockville, MD 20852. (240) 453-8800.

Chris B. Pascal,
Director, Office of Research Integrity.
 [FR Doc. E6-10440 Filed 7-3-06; 8:45 am]
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