[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 104 (Monday, June 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 31052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13054]


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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:
    Ryan Asherin, Oregon Health Authority: Based on the report of an 
investigation conducted by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and 
analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, ORI found that Ryan 
Asherin, former Surveillance Officer and Principal Investigator, OHA, 
Public Health Division engaged in research misconduct in research 
supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
Emerging Infections Program Grant 5U01CI00306-05.
    ORI found that the Respondent engaged in research misconduct by 
falsifying and/or fabricating data that were included in the CDC 
research record, a manuscript submitted to JAMA Intern Med in January 
2013, a published CDC report (CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 
61(09):157-162, March 2012), and presentations in 2012 to CDC and at 
the 11th Biennial Congress of the Anaerobe Society.
    ORI found that the Respondent falsified and/or fabricated fifty-six 
(56) case report forms (CRFs) while acquiring data on the incidence of 
Clostridium difficile infections in Klamath County, Oregon. 
Specifically, the Respondent (1) fabricated responses to multiple 
questions on the CRFs for patient demographic data, patient health 
information, and Clostridium difficile infection data, including the 
diagnoses of toxic megacolon and ileus and the performance of a 
colectomy, with no evidence in patient medical records to support the 
responses; and (2) falsified the CRFs by omitting data on the CRFs that 
clearly were included in patient medical records.
    Mr. Asherin has entered into a Voluntary Settlement Agreement 
(Agreement) and has voluntarily agreed for a period of two (2) years, 
beginning on May 12, 2015:

    (1) To have his research supervised; Respondent agrees that 
prior to submission of an application for U.S. Public Health Service 
(PHS) support for a research project on which the Respondent's 
participation is proposed and prior to Respondent's participation in 
any capacity on PHS-supported research, Respondent shall ensure that 
a plan for supervision of Respondent's duties is submitted to ORI 
for approval; the supervision plan must be designed to ensure the 
scientific integrity of Respondent's research contribution; 
Respondent agrees that he will not participate in any PHS-supported 
research until such a supervision plan is submitted to and approved 
by ORI; Respondent agrees to maintain responsibility for compliance 
with the agreed upon supervision plan;
    (2) that any institution employing him must submit, in 
conjunction with each application for PHS funds, or report, 
manuscript, or abstract involving PHS-supported research in which 
Respondent is involved, a certification to ORI that the data 
provided by Respondent are based on actual experiments or are 
otherwise legitimately derived and that the data, procedures, and 
methodology are accurately reported in the application, report, 
manuscript, or abstract; and
    (3) 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: Acting Director, Office of Research 
Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 
453-8200.

Donald Wright,
Acting Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 2015-13054 Filed 5-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-31-P