[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 209 (Thursday, October 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 66546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27587]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Findings of Research Misconduct

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity 
(ORI) has taken final action in the following case:
    Dr. Maria C.P. Geraedts, University of Maryland, Baltimore: Based 
on the report of an investigation conducted by the University of 
Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and analysis conducted by ORI in its 
oversight review, ORI and UMB found that Dr. Maria C.P. Geraedts, 
former postdoctoral fellow, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, 
UMB, engaged in research misconduct in research supported by National 
Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), 
National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant R01 DC010110.
    ORI found falsified and/or fabricated data included in the 
following two (2) publications:
     Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 303:E464-E474, 2012 
(hereafter referred to as ``AJP 2012'')
     Journal of Neuroscience 33(17):7559-7564, 2013 (hereafter 
referred to as ``JN 2013'')
    As a result of the UMB investigation, JN 2013 and AJP 2012 have 
been retracted.
    ORI found that Respondent falsified and/or fabricated bar graphs in 
AJP 2012, by changing ELISA-based measurements to produce the desired 
result for secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) from intestinal 
explants from various mouse strains in:
     Figure 2 for GLP-1 release from duodenum (2A & D), jejunum 
(2B & E), and ileum (2C & F).
     Figure 3 for GLP-1 release from colon (3A & C) and rectum 
(3D).
     Figure 4 for GLP-1 release from ileum (4A) and colon (4C) 
in the presence or absence of an ATP-sensitive K+ channel inhibitor.
    ORI found that Respondent falsified and/or fabricated bar graphs in 
Figure 1, JN 2013 by changing ELISA-based measurements to produce the 
desired result for the secretion of peptides found in taste buds (GLP-
1, glucagon, or neuropeptide Y) from mouse lingual epithelium exposed 
to various concentrations of stimuli (glucose, sucralose, MSG, 
polycose). These bar graphs also were included as Figure 7 in grant 
application R01 DC010110-06.
    Both the Respondent and the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) want to conclude this matter without further expenditure 
of time or other resources and have entered into a Voluntary Settlement 
Agreement (Agreement) to resolve this matter. Respondent stated that 
she is not currently involved in U.S. Public Health Service (PHS)-
supported research and has no intention of applying for or engaging in 
PHS-supported research or otherwise working with PHS. Dr. Geraedts has 
entered into a Voluntary Settlement Agreement with ORI and UMB, in 
which she voluntarily agreed to the administrative actions set forth 
below. The administrative actions are required for three (3) years 
beginning on the date of Dr. Geraedts employment in a position in which 
she receives or applies for PHS support on or after the effective date 
of the Agreement (September 22, 2015). If the Respondent has not 
obtained employment in a research position in which she receives or 
applies for PHS support within one (1) year of the effective date of 
the Agreement, the administrative actions set forth below will no 
longer apply. Dr. Geraedts has voluntarily agreed:
    (1) To have her research supervised as described below and notify 
her employer(s)/institution(s) of the terms of this supervision; 
Respondent agreed that prior to the submission of an application for 
PHS support for a research project on which her participation is 
proposed and prior to her participation in any capacity on PHS-
supported research, Respondent shall ensure that a plan for supervision 
of her duties is submitted to ORI for approval; the supervision plan 
must be designed to ensure the scientific integrity of her research 
contribution; Respondent agreed that she will 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;
    (2) that any institution employing her shall 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 herself 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 period of three (3) years beginning on September 22, 
2015.

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. 2015-27587 Filed 10-28-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-31-P