[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 22 (Thursday, February 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5254-5255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2276]


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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) has taken final action in the following case:
    Calleen S. Zach, Creighton University: Based on evidence obtained 
from Creighton University (CU) and additional evidence gathered by the 
Office of Research Integrity (ORI) during its oversight review, ORI 
found that Ms. Calleen S. Zach, former Research Assistant and Data Base 
Manager, CU, engaged in research misconduct in research funded by 
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 
National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant R01 HD046991.
    Specifically, ORI found that the Respondent provided falsified 
subject enrollment numbers in an application to NIH for continued 
funding of R01 HD046991 in 2008, a no-cost, one-year extension request 
for R01 HD046991 (April 8, 2009, letter to NICHD, NIH), and an 
application for additional funding of R01 HD046991 (June 30, 2009, to 
NICHD, NIH). In addition, she knowingly and intentionally provided 
falsified subject enrollment numbers in reports to the CU Institutional 
Review Board (IRB) in 2008 and 2009.
    ORI concluded that Respondent's knowing and intentional 
falsification of data constitutes research misconduct as defined by 42 
CFR 93.103. In addition, ORI found that Respondent's intentionally 
deceptive behavior, including false statements made to the CU 
institutional officials, forgery of petty cash receipts, and theft of 
NIH

[[Page 5255]]

research grant funds establish a lack of trustworthiness and present 
responsibility to be a steward of Federal funds. 2 CFR 180.125, 
180.800(d), 376.10.
    The following administrative actions have been implemented for a 
period of five (5) years, beginning on January 23, 2012:
    (1) Ms. Zach is debarred from eligibility for 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'' as 
defined in 2 CFR 180.200, 376.10; and
    (2) Ms. Zach is prohibited from serving in any advisory capacity to 
the U.S. 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: Director, Division of Investigative 
Oversight, Office of Research Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 
750, Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 453-8800.

John Dahlberg,
Director, Division of Investigative Oversight, Office of Research 
Integrity.
[FR Doc. 2012-2276 Filed 2-1-12; 8:45 am]
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