[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 83 (Tuesday, April 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25274-25275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10085]


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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:
    Matthew Poore, Advanced Liquid Logic Inc.: Based on the report of 
an inquiry conducted by Advanced Liquid Logic Inc. (Liquid Logic), the 
Respondent's admission, and additional analysis conducted by ORI, ORI 
found that Mr. Matthew Poore, former Technician, Liquid Logic, engaged 
in research misconduct in research supported by National Institute of 
Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health 
(NIH), contract HHSN272200900030C.
    ORI found that the Respondent engaged in research misconduct by 
falsifying data that were included in one (1) presentation and one (1) 
report to NIAID and in laboratory records at Liquid Logic.
    ORI finds that Respondent knowingly and intentionally falsified 
reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results by 
reporting the results from previous experiments as the actual results, 
when the experiments had not been performed. Specifically:
     In Liquid Logic laboratory documents, the Respondent 
falsified the RT-PCR results of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 
viral loads in whole blood patient samples by falsely changing previous 
results for two (2) samples from negative to positive and one (1) 
sample from positive to negative. The latter falsified sample result, 
changed from HIV positive to negative, was included in an April 1-June 
30, 2012, quarterly report and a July 12, 2012, presentation to NIAID.
     In Liquid Logic laboratory documents, the Respondent 
falsified the RT-PCR whole blood lysis results of testing samples as 
100 and 200 HIV viral copies per milliliter, when the experiments were 
not performed by the Respondent. These falsified results were

[[Page 25275]]

included in an April 1-June 30, 2012, quarterly report to NIAID.
     In Liquid Logic laboratory documents, the Respondent 
falsified the graphs of RT-PCR results of the Escherichia coli 
bacteriophage MS2, an internal control, viral loads for three (3) 
clinical samples, when the results were actually from prior experiments 
of two (2) controls and one (1) unrelated clinical sample. The 
Respondent falsified the MS2 graphs in an effort to conceal that RT-PCR 
experiments of the clinical samples had not been performed.
    Mr. Poore has entered into a Voluntary Settlement Agreement and has 
voluntarily agreed for a period of three (3) years, beginning on April 
1, 2013:
    (1) To have his research supervised; Respondent agreed that prior 
to the submission of an application for U.S. Public Health Service 
(PHS) support for a research project on which his participation is 
proposed and prior to his participation in any capacity on PHS-
supported research, Respondent shall ensure that a plan for supervision 
of his duties is submitted to ORI for approval; the supervision plan 
must be designed to ensure the scientific integrity of his research 
contribution; he agreed that he shall not participate in any PHS-
supported research until such a supervision plan is submitted to and 
approved by ORI; Respondent agreed to maintain responsibility for 
compliance with the agreed upon supervision plan; and
    (2) To exclude himself voluntarily 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Office of Research 
Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 
453-8200.

David E. Wright,
Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 2013-10085 Filed 4-29-13; 8:45 am]
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