83 FR 44637 - Findings of Research Misconduct

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 170 (August 31, 2018)

Page Range		44637-44638
FR Document		2018-19019

Findings of research misconduct have been made on the part of Li Wang, Ph.D., Professor of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut (UConn) (Respondent). Dr. Wang engaged in research misconduct in research included in National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant applications 1 R01 DK118645-01A1, 1 R01 DK116203-01, 1 R01 DK114804-01, and 2 R01 DK080440-09A1 and National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), NIH, grant applications 1 R01 GM125140-01 and 1 R01 GM126685-01. The administrative actions, including supervision for a period of one (1) year, were implemented beginning on August 14, 2018, and are detailed below.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 170 (Friday, August 31, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 170 (Friday, August 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44637-44638]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19019]


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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: Findings of research misconduct have been made on the part of 
Li Wang, Ph.D., Professor of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of 
Connecticut (UConn) (Respondent). Dr. Wang engaged in research 
misconduct in research included in National Institute of Diabetes and 
Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health 
(NIH), grant applications 1 R01 DK118645-01A1, 1 R01 DK116203-01, 1 R01 
DK114804-01, and 2 R01 DK080440-09A1 and National Institute of General 
Medical Sciences (NIGMS), NIH, grant applications 1 R01 GM125140-01 and 
1 R01 GM126685-01. The administrative actions, including supervision 
for a period of one (1) year, were implemented beginning on August 14, 
2018, and are detailed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Wanda K. Jones, Dr.P.H., Interim Director, Office of Research 
Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 
453-8200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that the Office of 
Research Integrity (ORI) has taken final action in the following case:
    Li Wang, Ph.D., University of Connecticut: Based on an assessment 
by UConn, an admission by Respondent and additional documents providing 
clarifying information, and analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight 
review, ORI found that Dr. Li Wang, Professor of Physiology and 
Neurobiology, UConn, engaged in research misconduct by recklessly 
including false data in NIDDK, NIH, grant applications 1 R01 DK118645-
01A1, 1 R01 DK116203-01, 1 R01 DK114804-01, and 2 R01 DK080440-09A1 and 
NIGMS, NIH, grant applications 1 R01 GM125140-01 and 1 R01 GM126685-01. 
None of the applications received funding, and three were withdrawn 
before review (1 R01 DK114804-01, 1 R01 DK116203-01, and 1 R01 
DK118645-01A1).
    In addition to making an admission, Respondent cooperated fully 
with UConn and ORI, has expressed remorse for her actions, and took 
full responsibility for her reckless behavior.
    Specifically, ORI finds that:
     Respondent mislabeled figure images in four grant 
applications, as follows:

--in Figure 3D in 1 R01 DK116203-01, Figure 4D in 1 R01 GM125140-01, 
and Figure 4D in 1 R01 DK114804-01, mislabeled Western blot bands 
showing the effect of alcohol-induced liver injury in mice on HMGB2 
gene reactivation
--in Figure 9A in 1 R01 DK116203-01, Figure 10A in 1 R01 GM125140-01, 
Figure 10A in 1 R01 DK114804-01, and Figure 11A in 1 R01 DK080440-09A1, 
labeled Western blot bands showing the knockdown of HMGB2 protein using 
shHMGB2 in human stellate cells (LX2) as the effect on tumor initiating 
cells (TIC)
--in Figure 13A in 1 R01 DK116203-01, Figure 13A in 1 R01 GM125140-01, 
Figure 13A in 1 R01 DK114804-01, and Figure 14A in 1 R01 DK080440-09A1, 
mislabeled confocal images showing the activation of [alpha]-SMA in 
primary HSCs as the activation of GFAP
     in Figure 10 in 1 R01 DK118645-01A1, Respondent used 
Western blot

[[Page 44638]]

bands labeled as miR181c in five previous grant applications (1 R01 
DK114804-01, 1 R01 DK116203-01, 1 R01 DK080440-09A1, 1 R01 GM125140-01, 
1 R01 GM126685-01) to represent a negative control without specifying 
that miR-181c was the negative control and explaining why it was used 
as the negative control
     in Figure 13C in 1 R01 DK114804-01 and Figure 14C in 2 R01 
DK080440-09A1, Respondent presented Western blot data showing decreased 
HMGB2 expression over time in primary HSCs when she knew these 
preliminary data were not sufficiently robust Dr. Wang entered into a 
Voluntary Settlement Agreement and voluntarily agreed for a period of 
one (1) year, beginning on August 14, 2018:
    (1) To have her research supervised; Respondent agrees 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 
agrees that she 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) 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.

Wanda K. Jones,
Interim Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 2018-19019 Filed 8-30-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-31-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 170 / Friday, August 31, 2018 / Notices 44637

Terry Clark, and Human Services, is publishing the utility of the proposed information
Office of the Secretary, Asst. Paperwork following summary of a proposed collection for the proper performance of
Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer. collection for public comment. the agency’s functions; (2) the accuracy
[FR Doc. 2018–18972 Filed 8–30–18; 8:45 am] DATES: Comments on the ICR must be of the estimated burden; (3) ways to
BILLING CODE 4151–AE–P received on or before October 1, 2018. enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to of the information to be collected; and
OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov or via (4) the use of automated collection
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND facsimile to (202) 395–5806. techniques or other forms of information
HUMAN SERVICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: technology to minimize the information
[Document Identifier OS–4040–0010] Sherrette Funn, Sherrette.Funn@hhs.gov collection burden.
or (202) 795–7714. When submitting Title of the Collection: Project
Agency Information Collection comments or requesting information, Abstract Summary.
Request. 30-Day Public Comment please include the document identifier Type of Collection: Extension.
Request 4040–0010–30D and project title for OMB No.: 4040–0010.
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS. reference. Abstract: Project Abstract Summary is
ACTION: Notice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested an OMB-approved collection (4040–
persons are invited to send comments 0010). This information collection is
SUMMARY: In compliance with the regarding this burden estimate or any used by grant applicants. This IC
requirement of the Paperwork other aspect of this collection of expires on January 31, 2019. We are
Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the information, including any of the requesting a three-year clearance of this
Secretary (OS), Department of Health following subjects: (1) The necessity and collection.

ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN TABLE
Average
Number
Number of burden per Total burden
Type of respondent responses per
respondents response hours
respondent (in hours)

Grant Applicant ................................................................................................ 3,467 1 0.5 3,467

Total .......................................................................................................... ........................ 3,467 ........................ 3,467

Terry Clark, one (1) year, were implemented In addition to making an admission,
Office of the Secretary, Asst. Paperwork beginning on August 14, 2018, and are Respondent cooperated fully with
Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer. detailed below. UConn and ORI, has expressed remorse
[FR Doc. 2018–18965 Filed 8–30–18; 8:45 am] for her actions, and took full
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
BILLING CODE 4151–AE–P responsibility for her reckless behavior.
Wanda K. Jones, Dr.P.H., Interim Specifically, ORI finds that:
Director, Office of Research Integrity, • Respondent mislabeled figure
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, images in four grant applications, as
HUMAN SERVICES Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 453–8200. follows:
—in Figure 3D in 1 R01 DK116203–01,
Office of the Secretary SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is
Figure 4D in 1 R01 GM125140–01,
hereby given that the Office of Research
and Figure 4D in 1 R01 DK114804–01,
Findings of Research Misconduct Integrity (ORI) has taken final action in
mislabeled Western blot bands
the following case:
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS. showing the effect of alcohol-induced
ACTION: Notice. Li Wang, Ph.D., University of liver injury in mice on HMGB2 gene
Connecticut: Based on an assessment by reactivation
SUMMARY: Findings of research UConn, an admission by Respondent —in Figure 9A in 1 R01 DK116203–01,
misconduct have been made on the part and additional documents providing Figure 10A in 1 R01 GM125140–01,
of Li Wang, Ph.D., Professor of clarifying information, and analysis Figure 10A in 1 R01 DK114804–01,
Physiology and Neurobiology, conducted by ORI in its oversight and Figure 11A in 1 R01 DK080440–
University of Connecticut (UConn) review, ORI found that Dr. Li Wang, 09A1, labeled Western blot bands
(Respondent). Dr. Wang engaged in Professor of Physiology and showing the knockdown of HMGB2
research misconduct in research Neurobiology, UConn, engaged in protein using shHMGB2 in human
included in National Institute of research misconduct by recklessly stellate cells (LX2) as the effect on
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney including false data in NIDDK, NIH, tumor initiating cells (TIC)
Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of grant applications 1 R01 DK118645– —in Figure 13A in 1 R01 DK116203–01,
Health (NIH), grant applications 1 R01 01A1, 1 R01 DK116203–01, 1 R01 Figure 13A in 1 R01 GM125140–01,
DK118645–01A1, 1 R01 DK116203–01, DK114804–01, and 2 R01 DK080440– Figure 13A in 1 R01 DK114804–01,
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

1 R01 DK114804–01, and 2 R01 09A1 and NIGMS, NIH, grant and Figure 14A in 1 R01 DK080440–
DK080440–09A1 and National Institute applications 1 R01 GM125140–01 and 1 09A1, mislabeled confocal images
of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), R01 GM126685–01. None of the showing the activation of a-SMA in
NIH, grant applications 1 R01 applications received funding, and three primary HSCs as the activation of
GM125140–01 and 1 R01 GM126685– were withdrawn before review (1 R01 GFAP
01. The administrative actions, DK114804–01, 1 R01 DK116203–01, and • in Figure 10 in 1 R01 DK118645–
including supervision for a period of 1 R01 DK118645–01A1). 01A1, Respondent used Western blot

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44638 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 170 / Friday, August 31, 2018 / Notices

bands labeled as miR181c in five application for PHS funds, or report, DATES: Comments on the ICR must be
previous grant applications (1 R01 manuscript, or abstract involving PHS- received on or before October 1, 2018.
DK114804–01, 1 R01 DK116203–01, 1 supported research in which ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to
R01 DK080440–09A1, 1 R01 Respondent is involved, a certification OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov or via
GM125140–01, 1 R01 GM126685–01) to to ORI that the data provided by facsimile to (202) 395–5806.
represent a negative control without Respondent are based on actual
specifying that miR–181c was the experiments or are otherwise FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
negative control and explaining why it legitimately derived and that the data, Sherrette Funn, Sherrette.Funn@hhs.gov
was used as the negative control procedures, and methodology are or (202) 795–7714. When submitting
• in Figure 13C in 1 R01 DK114804– accurately reported in the application, comments or requesting information,
01 and Figure 14C in 2 R01 DK080440– report, manuscript or abstract; and please include the document identifier
09A1, Respondent presented Western (3) to exclude herself voluntarily from 4040–0008–30D and project title for
blot data showing decreased HMGB2 serving in any advisory capacity to PHS reference.
expression over time in primary HSCs including, but not limited to, service on
when she knew these preliminary data SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested
any PHS advisory committee, board, persons are invited to send comments
were not sufficiently robust Dr. Wang and/or peer review committee, or as a
entered into a Voluntary Settlement regarding this burden estimate or any
consultant. other aspect of this collection of
Agreement and voluntarily agreed for a
period of one (1) year, beginning on Wanda K. Jones, information, including any of the
August 14, 2018: Interim Director, Office of Research Integrity. following subjects: (1) The necessity and
(1) To have her research supervised; [FR Doc. 2018–19019 Filed 8–30–18; 8:45 am] utility of the proposed information
Respondent agrees that prior to the BILLING CODE 4150–31–P
collection for the proper performance of
submission of an application for U.S. the agency’s functions; (2) the accuracy
Public Health Service (PHS) support for of the estimated burden; (3) ways to
a research project on which the DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
Respondent’s participation is proposed HUMAN SERVICES of the information to be collected; and
and prior to Respondent’s participation (4) the use of automated collection
in any capacity on PHS-supported [Document Identifier OS–4040–0008]
techniques or other forms of information
research, Respondent shall ensure that a technology to minimize the information
plan for supervision of Respondent’s Agency Information Collection collection burden.
duties is submitted to ORI for approval; Request. 30-Day Public Comment Title of the Collection: Budget
the supervision plan must be designed Request Information for Construction Programs
to ensure the scientific integrity of (SF–424C).
Respondent’s research contribution; AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.
Type of Collection: Extension.
Respondent agrees that she shall not ACTION: Notice.
participate in any PHS-supported OMB No.: 4040–0008.
research until such a supervision plan is SUMMARY: In compliance with the Abstract: Budget Information for
submitted to and approved by ORI; requirement of the Paperwork Construction Programs (SF–424C) is an
Respondent agrees to maintain Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the OMB-approved collection (4040–0008).
responsibility for compliance with the Secretary (OS), Department of Health This information collection is used by
agreed upon supervision plan; and Human Services, is publishing the grant applicants. This IC expires on
(2) that any institution employing her following summary of a proposed January 31, 2019. We are requesting a
shall submit, in conjunction with each collection for public comment. three-year clearance of this collection.

ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN TABLE
Number of Average
Number of Total
Type of respondent responses per burden hours
respondents burden hours
respondent per response

Grant Applicant ................................................................................................ 239 1 1 239

Total .......................................................................................................... 239 ........................ ........................ 239

Terry Clark, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
Office of the Secretary, Asst. Paperwork HUMAN SERVICES as amended. The grant applications and
Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer. the discussions could disclose
[FR Doc. 2018–18964 Filed 8–30–18; 8:45 am] National Institutes of Health confidential trade secrets or commercial
BILLING CODE 4151–AE–P
property such as patentable material,
National Institute of General Medical and personal information concerning
Sciences; Notice of Closed Meeting individuals associated with the grant
applications, the disclosure of which
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Pursuant to section 10(d) of the would constitute a clearly unwarranted
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as invasion of personal privacy.
amended, notice is hereby given of the
following meeting. Name of Committee: National Institute of
General Medical Sciences Special Emphasis
The meeting will be closed to the Panel; Review of Support of Competitive
public in accordance with the Research (SCORE) Award Applications.
provisions set forth in sections Date: October 15, 2018.

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Document Created: 2018-08-31 00:53:44
Document Modified: 2018-08-31 00:53:44

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		Wanda K. Jones, Dr.P.H., Interim Director, Office of Research Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 453-8200.
FR Citation		83 FR 44637

83 FR 44637 - Findings of Research Misconduct

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESOffice of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 170 (August 31, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary