82 FR 33137 - Findings of Research Misconduct
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 137 (July 19, 2017)
Office of the Secretary
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 137 (July 19, 2017)
| Page Range | 33137-33137 | |
| FR Document | 2017-15159 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 19, 2017)] [Notices] [Page 33137] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-15159] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Alec Mirchandani, Florida Atlantic University: Based on the report of the inquiry conducted by Florida Atlantic University (FAU), the Respondent's admission, and analysis conducted by ORI, ORI found that Mr. Alec Mirchandani, former post-baccalaureate research volunteer in the Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University (FAU), engaged in research misconduct in research supported by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant 1 R15 MH099590-01A1. ORI found that Respondent engaged in research misconduct by knowingly and intentionally: (1) Fabricating the results of the T-maze behavioral experiment for control mice, (2) falsifying the laboratory and vivarium entry logs in an effort to cover up his actions, and (3) reporting the fabricated and falsified data to his laboratory supervisors. Specifically, ORI found that Respondent knowingly and intentionally:Fabricated the results that he recorded for the T-maze behavioral experiment in three of the five TMZ control mice on the laboratory data sheets and white board on fourteen (14) of the sixteen (16) eligible days in June 2016, to make it appear as though he had conducted the experiments; Falsified the animal transfer logs on twelve (12) of the sixteen (16) eligible days in June 2016, to make it appear as though he had conducted the experiments; Fabricated the times he recorded on the laboratory data sheets on fourteen (14) of the sixteen (16) eligible days in June 2016, to make it appear as though he had conducted the experiments; incorporated and recorded the fabricated and falsified data with his previous data in his laboratory notebook and reported the results to his laboratory supervisor and principal investigator, such that the experimental control data (five animals) for experiments conducted from January 2016-June 30, 2016, were not accurately represented. Mr. Mirchandani has entered into a Voluntary Settlement Agreement with ORI, in which he voluntarily agreed, beginning on June 29, 2017: (1) That if within two (2) years from the effective date of the Agreement, Respondent receives or applies for U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) support, Respondent agrees to have his research supervised for a period of one (1) year, beginning on the date of his employment in a position in which he receives or applies for PHS support, and agrees to notify his employer(s)/institution(s) of the terms of this supervision. Respondent agrees that prior to the submission of an application for 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 shall 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) 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 a period of one (1) year, beginning with the effective date of the Agreement. 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. 2017-15159 Filed 7-18-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4150-31-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 19, 2017 / Notices 33137
The meeting agenda will include: (1) DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND Mr. Mirchandani has entered into a
Presentations and discussion on the HUMAN SERVICES Voluntary Settlement Agreement with
processes states use to identify and ORI, in which he voluntarily agreed,
follow up on out of range newborn Office of the Secretary beginning on June 29, 2017:
screening results; (2) a presentation on (1) That if within two (2) years from
Findings of Research Misconduct the effective date of the Agreement,
phase one of the spinal muscular
atrophy evidence review; (3) AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS Respondent receives or applies for U.S.
presentations on newborn screening ACTION: Notice. Public Health Service (PHS) support,
Respondent agrees to have his research
topics such as the clinical and public
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that supervised for a period of one (1) year,
health impact of Critical Congenital
the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) beginning on the date of his
Heart Defects, quality measures in employment in a position in which he
has taken final action in the following
newborn screening, and a review of case: receives or applies for PHS support, and
newborn screening technology; and (4) Alec Mirchandani, Florida Atlantic agrees to notify his employer(s)/
updates from the Laboratory Standards University: Based on the report of the institution(s) of the terms of this
and Procedures workgroup, Follow-up inquiry conducted by Florida Atlantic supervision. Respondent agrees that
and Treatment workgroup, and University (FAU), the Respondent’s prior to the submission of an
Education and Training workgroup. The admission, and analysis conducted by application for PHS support for a
Committee will not be voting on a ORI, ORI found that Mr. Alec research project on which the
proposed addition of a condition to the Mirchandani, former post-baccalaureate Respondent’s participation is proposed
RUSP. Agenda items are subject to research volunteer in the Center for and prior to Respondent’s participation
change. The final meeting agenda will Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, in any capacity on PHS-supported
be available 2 days prior to the meeting Florida Atlantic University (FAU), research, Respondent shall ensure that a
on the Committee’s Web site: http:// engaged in research misconduct in plan for supervision of Respondent’s
www.hrsa.gov/advisorycommittees/ research supported by National Institute duties is submitted to ORI for approval.
mchbadvisory/heritabledisorders. of Mental Health (NIMH), National The supervision plan must be designed
Institutes of Health (NIH), grant 1 R15 to ensure the scientific integrity of
Members of the public will have the MH099590–01A1. Respondent’s research contribution.
opportunity to provide comments. All ORI found that Respondent engaged Respondent agrees that he shall not
comments are part of the official in research misconduct by knowingly participate in any PHS-supported
Committee record. To submit written and intentionally: (1) Fabricating the research until such a supervision plan is
comments or request time for an oral results of the T-maze behavioral submitted to and approved by ORI.
comment at the meeting, please register experiment for control mice, (2) Respondent agrees to maintain
online by 12:00 p.m. on July 28, 2017, falsifying the laboratory and vivarium responsibility for compliance with the
at http://www.achdncmeetings.org/. To entry logs in an effort to cover up his agreed upon supervision plan.
ensure all individuals who have actions, and (3) reporting the fabricated (2) To exclude himself voluntarily
registered and requested time for oral and falsified data to his laboratory from serving in any advisory capacity to
comments are accommodated, the supervisors. PHS including, but not limited to,
allocated time for comments may be Specifically, ORI found that service on any PHS advisory committee,
limited. Individuals associated with Respondent knowingly and board, and/or peer review committee, or
groups or who plan to provide intentionally: as a consultant for a period of one (1)
comments on similar topics may be • Fabricated the results that he year, beginning with the effective date
recorded for the T-maze behavioral of the Agreement.
asked to combine their comments and
experiment in three of the five TMZ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
present them through a single
control mice on the laboratory data Director, Office of Research Integrity,
representative. No audiovisual
sheets and white board on fourteen (14) 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750,
presentations are permitted. Written of the sixteen (16) eligible days in June
comments should identify the Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 453–8200.
2016, to make it appear as though he
individual’s name, address, email, had conducted the experiments; Kathryn M. Partin,
telephone number, professional or • Falsified the animal transfer logs on Director, Office of Research Integrity.
organization affiliation, background or twelve (12) of the sixteen (16) eligible [FR Doc. 2017–15159 Filed 7–18–17; 8:45 am]
area of expertise (i.e., parent, family days in June 2016, to make it appear as BILLING CODE 4150–31–P
member, researcher, clinician, public though he had conducted the
health) and the topic/subject matter. experiments;
Individuals who plan to attend and • Fabricated the times he recorded on DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
the laboratory data sheets on fourteen HUMAN SERVICES
need special assistance, such as sign
language interpretation or other (14) of the sixteen (16) eligible days in
June 2016, to make it appear as though National Institutes of Health
reasonable accommodations, should
he had conducted the experiments;
notify Ann Ferrero using the address • incorporated and recorded the National Institute of Allergy and
and phone number above at least 10 Infectious Diseases; Notice of Closed
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
fabricated and falsified data with his
days prior to the meeting. previous data in his laboratory notebook Meeting
Jason E. Bennett, and reported the results to his Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Director, Division of the Executive Secretariat.
laboratory supervisor and principal Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
investigator, such that the experimental amended (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is
[FR Doc. 2017–15113 Filed 7–18–17; 8:45 am]
control data (five animals) for hereby given of the following meeting.
BILLING CODE 4165–15–P
experiments conducted from January The meeting will be closed to the
2016–June 30, 2016, were not accurately public in accordance with the
represented. provisions set forth in sections
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Document Created: 2017-07-19 06:17:41
Document Modified: 2017-07-19 06:17:41
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Contact | Director, Office of Research Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 453-8200. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 33137 |
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