Findings of Scientific Misconduct

Abstract

Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) has made a final finding of scientific misconduct in the following case: Benjamin S. Pender, Medical University of South Carolina: Based upon a report from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), information obtained by the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) during its oversight review, and Mr. Pender's own admission, ORI found that Mr. Pender, former graduate student, Medical Science Training Program, MUSC, engaged in scientific misconduct in biomedical research supported by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Mr. Pender cooperated with MUSC's investigation. Specifically, Mr. Pender presented to the MUSC Shock Research Group (1) a blank autoradiographic film, which he represented to be a Northern blot, as evidence that he had conducted an experiment that he had not done, and (2) a photographic slide representing a Western blot analysis that he had falsified by using a computer to duplicate two sets of bands to misrepresent oligonucleotide treatments at different times and by misrepresenting the identities of two bands in one of the sets. Also, Mr. Pender falsified data from experiments with thromboxane B<INF>2 </INF>and tumor necrosis factor alpha that were published and distributed in an abstract entitled ``Antisense Oligonucleotide to G Protein Inhibits Endotoxin Stimulated Thromboxane (Tx) B2 production'' (Supplement to Shock 7:20, 1997). This data also was reported as Figure 4 of a submitted but unpublished and withdrawn manuscript and in the Progress Report for an NIH grant. Mr. Pender 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 July 31, 1998: (1) To exclude himself 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 CFR part 76 (Debarment Regulations); and (2) 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. No scientific publications were required to be corrected as part of this Agreement. The abstract was withdrawn before presentation.