[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15712-15713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8347]


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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:

Enrico Portuese, University of Pittsburgh

    Based upon an investigation conducted by the University of 
Pittsburgh, information obtained by the Office of Research Integrity 
(ORI) during its oversight review, and Mr. Portuese's own admission, 
ORI found that Mr. Portuese, a former graduate student in the 
Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, 
University of Pittsburgh, engaged in scientific misconduct by 
fabricating research data in biomedical research supported by two 
grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney 
Disease (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH).
    Specifically, Mr. Portuese fabricated data in a study of 
angiotensin-converting enzyme polymorphism and complications from 
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. These fabricated data were 
included in an abstract that was submitted to the American Diabetes 
Association in January 1996; however, the abstract was not accepted, 
presented in public, or published.
    In addition, Mr. Portuese fabricated genetic data on lipoprotein 
lipase polymorphisms as related to diabetes complications and risk 
factors. These fabricated data were included in tables prepared by Mr. 
Portuese and presented by him to his doctoral committee in October 
1996. None of the fabricated data in question has been published, 
presented at a scientific meeting, or used in any grant applications.
    Mr. Portuese has accepted the ORI finding and has entered into a 
Voluntary Exclusion Agreement with ORI in which he has voluntarily 
agreed, for the three (3) year period beginning March 25, 1997:
    (1) To exclude himself 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; and
    (2) That any institution that submits an application for PHS 
support for a research project on which Mr. Portuese's participation is 
proposed or

[[Page 15713]]

which uses him in any capacity on PHS supported research must 
concurrently submit a plan for supervision of his duties. The 
supervisory plan must be designed to ensure the scientific integrity of 
Mr. Portuese's research contribution. The institution must submit a 
copy of the supervisory plan to ORI.
    No scientific publications were required to be corrected as part of 
this Agreement.

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. 97-8347 Filed 4-1-97; 8:45 am]
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