[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46251-46252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21367]


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

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:
    Azza El-Remessy, Ph.D., University of Georgia, College of Pharmacy: 
Based on the report of an investigation conducted by the University of 
Georgia, College of Pharmacy (UGCP) and additional analysis conducted 
by ORI in its oversight review, ORI found that Dr. Azza El-Remessy, 
former Associate Professor, Department of Clinical and Administrative 
Pharmacy, UGCP, engaged in research misconduct in research supported by 
National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), 
grants R01 EY011766, R01 EY022408, and R01 EY04618, National Heart, 
Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH, grant R01 HL056259, and 
National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, grant K01 CA89689.
    ORI found that false Western blot data were included in:
     J Cell Sci. 118(Pt. 1):243-52, 2005 (hereafter referred to 
as ``J Cell Sci. 2005''). Retraction in: J Cell Sci. 129(16):3203, 
2016.
     FASEB J. 21(10):2528-39, 2007 (hereafter referred to as 
``FASEB J. 2007''). Retraction in: FASEB J. 31(1):421, 2017.
     PLoS One 8(8):e71868, 2013 (hereafter referred to as 
``PLoS One 2013'').
    As a result of its investigation, UGCP recommended that PLoS One 
2013 be corrected. As a result of the investigation, J Cell Sci. 2005 
and FASEB J. 2007 have been retracted.
    ORI found that Respondent intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly 
used the same Western blot bands to represent different experimental 
results. Specifically, Respondent reused and relabeled bands in:
    1. Figure 3B, J Cell Sci. 2005, to represent p38 bands from retinal 
cultured endothelial cells in high glucose in the absence of exogenous 
VEGF and also cells in peroxynitrite in the presence of exogenous VEGF.
    2. Figure 4A, J Cell Sci. 2005, to represent nitrotyrosine 
immunoprecipitations from retinal endothelial cells cultured in normal 
glucose in the presence or absence of FeTTP; the Respondent also 
duplicated controls for p85 immunoprecipitation by using three bands 
representing 2 normal glucose and 1 high glucose treatments, flipping 
them horizontally (mirror images) to also represent 2 high glucose and 
1 peroxynitrite treatments.
    3. Figure 4B, J Cell Sci. 2005, to represent p85 
immunoprecipitations from retinal endothelial cells stimulated with 
VEGF and also cells treated with either high glucose or peroxynitrite.
    4. Figure 4A, PLoS One 2013, to represent immunoprecipitations for 
phosphorylated GSK-3 (p-GSK-3) in cells with normal glucose or high 
glucose for day 1 and to also represent cells treated with VEGF or 
VEGF+VEGFI (inhibitor); the Respondent also duplicated GSK-3 controls 
by using the same bands to represent high glucose treatment for day 1 
and day 3 treatments, flipping them horizontally, to also represent for 
VEGF and VEGFRI treatments.
    5. Figure 3, FASEB J. 2007, to represent phosphorylated VEGF2 (P-
VEGF2) protein expression in microvascular endothelial cells in: Lanes 
1 and 8, lanes 2 and 5, and lanes 6 and 7, where each lane represents 
different experimental conditions.
    Dr. El-Remessy entered into a Voluntary Settlement Agreement 
(Agreement) to resolve this matter without further expenditure of time 
or other resources. Dr. El-Remessy accepts ORI's findings of research 
misconduct as set forth above but neither admits nor denies ORI's 
findings of research misconduct. The settlement is not an admission of 
liability on the part of the Respondent. Dr. El-Remessy voluntarily 
agreed, beginning on September 12, 2017:
    (1) To have her research supervised for a period of three (3) years 
beginning with the effective date of the Agreement; Respondent agreed 
that prior to the 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 
agreed that she 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;
    (2) that for three (3) years beginning with the effective date of 
the Agreement,

[[Page 46252]]

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;
    (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 a period of three (3) years, beginning with the 
effective date of the Agreement; and
    (4) that as a condition of the Agreement, Respondent will request 
that PLoS One 8(8):e71868, 2013 be corrected or retracted.

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

Kathryn M. Partin,
Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 2017-21367 Filed 10-3-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-31-P