96-16102. Findings of Scientific Misconduct  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 25, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 32826-32827]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-16102]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
    
    Office of the Secretary
    
    
    Findings of Scientific 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 made final findings of scientific misconduct in the following 
    case:
        Robert J. Altman, M.D., University of California at San Francisco 
    (UCSF): Based on an investigation conducted by the institution as well 
    as information obtained by ORI during its oversight review, ORI found 
    that Robert J. Altman, M.D., Research Fellow, Department of Obstetrics, 
    Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, committed scientific 
    misconduct by fabricating and falsifying data in research supported by 
    two National Institutes of Health grants.
        Specifically, Dr. Altman fabricated an experiment related to an 
    ovarian cell line injected intraperitoneally into 12 nude mice. The 
    resulting data were reported in (1) a manuscript in page proof entitled 
    ``Inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor arrests growth of 
    ovarian cancer in an intraperitoneal model'' (Journal of the National 
    Cancer Institute); (2) a manuscript entitled ``Vascular endothelial 
    growth factor is essential for human ovarian carcinoma growth in 
    vivo,'' submitted to the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI 
    manuscript); and (3) a published abstract entitled ``Vascular 
    endothelial growth factor is essential for ovarian cancer growth in 
    vivo'' (Society for Gynecologic Investigation, abstract #079). Further, 
    in the JCI manuscript, Dr. Altman (1) falsified the number of subjects 
    with ovarian tumors from whom he obtained sections of tissue for 
    examination of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor 
    (VEGF) purportedly by both in situ hybridization and 
    immunohistochemistry, and (2) falsely reported that VEGF expression was 
    examined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in papillary 
    serous- (n=7) and mucinous- (n=5) cystadenocarcinomas, when the number 
    of surgical cases involving papillary serous tumors was four and the 
    number of mucinous tumors was zero. Dr. Altman examined VEGF expression 
    in only three papillary serous tumor specimens, one specimen both 
    in situ and by immunohistochemistry and the remaining two 
    solely by immunohistochemistry.
        Dr. Altman has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement with 
    ORI in which he has voluntarily agreed, for the three (3) year period 
    beginning June 11, 1996, to exclude himself from:
        (1) Any contracting or subcontracting with any agency of the United 
    States Government and from eligibility for, or involvement in, 
    nonprocurement transactions (e.g., grants and cooperative agreements) 
    of the United States Government as defined in 45 C.F.R. Part 76 
    (Debarment Regulations), and (2) Serving in any advisory capacity to 
    the Public Health Service (PHS), including but not limited to service 
    on any PHS advisory committee, board, and/or peer review committee, or 
    as a consultant.
        The above voluntary exclusion shall not apply to Dr. Altman's 
    future training
    
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    or practice of clinical medicine whether as a medical student, 
    resident, fellow, or licensed practitioner, as the case may be, unless 
    that practice involves research or research training.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Division of Research 
    Investigations, Office of Research Integrity, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 
    700, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Chris B. Pascal,
    Acting Director, Office of Research Integrity.
    [FR Doc. 96-16102 Filed 6-24-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4160-17-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/25/1996
Department:
Health and Human Services Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
96-16102
Pages:
32826-32827 (2 pages)
PDF File:
96-16102.pdf