[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 161 (Wednesday, August 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44281-44282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22081]
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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 a final finding of scientific misconduct in the
following case:
Jill A. London, Ph.D., University of Connecticut Health Center:
Based upon a report from the University of Connecticut Health Center as
well as information obtained by the Office of Research Integrity (ORI)
during its oversight review, ORI found that Dr. London, former
Assistant Professor, Department of Biostructure and Function, School of
Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, engaged in
scientific misconduct by intentionally falsifying data in conjunction
with applying for and reporting research supported by the National
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National
Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD),
National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Specifically, ORI found that Dr. London's grant applications and
articles contained numerous falsifications, including:
(1) Figures 6, 7, and 8 in a paper (London, J.A. & Cohen, L.B.
``High time resolution, multi-site optical measurement of vertebrate
somatosensory cortex during epileptiform discharges and vertebrate
gustatory cortex.'' Optical Methods in Neurobiology, pp. 61-78, 1988.)
prepared for the 11th Annual Meeting of the European Neuroscience
Association (hereafter referred to as the European Neuroscience paper)
that cited support by NINDS, NIH grants R01 NS08437 and P01 NS16993;
(2) Figure 1A in a paper (London, J.A., ``Optical recording of
activity in the hamster gustatory cortex elicited by electrical
stimulation of the tongue.'' Chemical Senses 15:137-143, 1990.) that
cited support by NINDS, NIH grants R01 NS08437 and P01 NS16993; Figure
1A was found to be very similar or identical to Figure 7 of the
European Neuroscience paper in #1 above;
(3) Figures 10 to 13 in grant application 2 P50 DC00168-14,
``Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center,'' submitted to
NIDCD, NIH on January 28, 1994; these figures also appear as Figures 4
to 7 in grant application 2 P50 DC00168-14A1, submitted to NIDCD, NIH
on September 28, 1994;
(4) Figures 2, 8, and 9 in grant application 1 R01 DC01752-01,
``Optical recording of hamster gustatory cortex activity,'' submitted
to NIDCD, NIH on January 29, 1992; these figures were the same as
Figures 11, 12, and 13, respectively, in grant application 2 P50
DC00168-14 (see #3 above);
(5) Figures supplied for Figures 1 and 3 in grant application 1 F32
NS09601-01, ``Modular response patterns in hamster gustatory cortex,''
submitted to NINDS, NIH on August 3, 1993; these figures were the same
as Figures 10 and 11, respectively, in grant application 2 P50 DC00168-
14 (see #3 above);
(6) Figure 3 of a handout that Dr. London provided during an NIH
site visit on April 25, 1994, conducted in conjunction with the review
of grant application 2 P50 DC00168-14; the top and bottom portions of
Figure 3 of the site visit handout were very similar or identical to
Figures 6 and 7, respectively, of the European Neuroscience paper (see
#1 above), and approximately 115 of the 125 traces appearing in each of
the figures showed identities, with one or two ``active'' traces being
identical;
(7) Figures 1, 2, and 3 in a paper (London, J.A. & Wehby, R.G.
``Classification of inhibitory responses of hamster gustatory cortex.''
Brain Research 666:270-274, 1994.) that cited support by NIDCD, NIH
grants P50 DC00168 and T32 DC00025; and
(8) Nine figures included in a manuscript (London, J.A. & Wehby,
R.G. ``Excitatory neural responses in the hamster gustatory cortex.''
Submitted to Brain Research, 1996.) that cited support by NIDCD, NIH
grants P50 DC00168 and T32 DC00025. Dr. London has accepted the ORI
finding and has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement with ORI
in which she has voluntarily agreed, for a period of five (5) years,
beginning August 8, 1997:
(1) To exclude herself from 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
[[Page 44282]]
(2) To exclude herself from 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. Dr. London is required to submit a letter to
Chemical Senses requesting a retraction of the following
article: London, J.A. ``Optical recording of activity in the hamster
gustatory cortex elicited by electrical stimulation of the tongue.''
Chemical Senses 15:137-143, 1990;
Brain Research requesting a retraction of the following
article: London, J.A., & Wehby, R.G. ``Classification of inhibitory
responses of the hamster gustatory cortex.'' Brain Research 666:270-
274, 1994; and
Optical Methods in Neurobiology requesting a retraction of
Section V, Results--Hamster of the following article: London, J.A., &
Cohen, L.B. ``High time resolution, multi-site optical measurement of
vertebrate somatosensory cortex during epileptiform discharges and
vertebrate gustatory cortex.'' Optical Methods in Neurobiology, pp. 61-
78, 1988, prepared for the 11th Annual Meeting of the European
Neuroscience Association.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Acting Director, Division of Research
Investigations, Office of Research Integrity, 5515 Security Lane, Suite
700, Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 443-5330.
Chris B. Pascal,
Acting Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 97-22081 Filed 8-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-17-P
