NOT-OD-02-003: FINDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC MISCONDUCT

Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
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FINDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC MISCONDUCT

Release Date:  October 15, 2001

NOTICE:  NOT-OD-02-003

Department of Health and Human Services

Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) and the 
Assistant Secretary for Health have taken final action in the following case:

Steven F. Arnold, Ph.D., Tulane University:  Based on the report of an 
investigation conducted by Tulane University, dated July 16, 1999, and 
additional analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, the U.S. Public 
Health Service (PHS) found that Dr. Arnold, former Research Assistant 
Professor at the Center for Bioenvironmental Research at Tulane University 
Medical Center, engaged in scientific misconduct.  Dr. Arnold committed 
scientific misconduct by intentionally falsifying the research results 
reported in Table 3 of a paper published in the journal Science [footnote:  
Steven F. Arnold, Diane M. Klotz, Bridgette M. Collins, Peter M. Vonier, Louis 
J. Guillette, Jr., John A. McLachlan.  "Synergistic Activation of Estrogen 
Receptor with Combinations of Environmental Chemicals."  Science 272:1489-1492 
(June 7, 1996) (hereafter referred to as the "Science paper")] and by 
providing falsified and fabricated materials to investigating officials at 
Tulane University in response to a request for original data to support the 
research results and conclusions reported in the Science paper.  In addition, 
PHS finds that there is no original data or other corroborating evidence to 
support the research results and conclusions reported in the Science paper as 
a whole.

Specifically, PHS finds that Dr. Arnold=s research reported in the Science 
paper involved a finding that environmental chemicals, such as certain 
insecticides and hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which have a 
weak estrogenic activity when acting alone, were up to 1000 times more potent 
in mimicking estrogen when tested in combination.  These research results and 
conclusions were important to the public health because they suggested that 
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may need to adjust its guidelines on 
exposure limits to such chemicals.  The Science paper was withdrawn on July 
25, 1997.  See Science 277:462 (July 25, 1997).

This research formed the basis of National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive 
and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant 
application 1 R29 DK52420-01, "Two Estrogen Binding Sites on the Estrogen 
Receptor."

Dr. Arnold has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement (Agreement) with 
PHS in which he has voluntarily agreed for a period of five (5) years, 
beginning on September 20, 2001:

(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 C.F.R. Part 76 (Debarment 
Regulations),

(2) to exclude himself 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.

During discussions about the proposed Agreement, Dr. Arnold was cooperative 
with ORI and accepted responsibility for his actions, admitted to scientific 
misconduct, and conceded that there were no original data or other 
corroborating evidence to support the conclusions reported in the Science 
paper.

INQUIRIES

For further information contact:

Director
Division of Investigative Oversight
Office of Research Integrity
5515 Security Lane, Suite 700
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone:  (301) 443-5330
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