FINDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC MISCONDUCT

Release Date:  July 19, 2002

NOTICE: NOT-OD-02-063

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:

Michael Shishov, M.D., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc. (BWH):  Based 
on the report of an investigation conducted by Brigham and Women's 
Hospital, Inc. (BWH Report), the respondent's admission, and additional 
analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, the U.S. Public 
Health Service (PHS) found that the respondent, a former laboratory 
technician in the Intensive Physiological Monitoring Unit of the BWH 
General Clinical Research Center, engaged in scientific misconduct in a 
program of sleep disorder research supported by the National Institutes 
of Health (NIH) under National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), 
NIH, grant M01 RR02635.

Specifically, PHS found, and the respondent admitted, that on numerous 
occasions between May and August 1995, he registered on the Termiflex-
computer terminal, as well as writing in hand on blood draw sheets and 
laboratory logs, the times that he claimed he drew blood samples from 
human subjects in investigational sleep research.  These times differed 
from the actual times when the samples were collected.  The accurate 
assessment of the endogenous circadian phase and amplitude of the 
measured variables, including the timing and amount of blood cortisol, 
was essential for the studies.  However, PHS acknowledges certain 
mitigating circumstances:  (a) that occasionally during this time, the 
respondent may have been responsible for more protocol procedures than 
he could reasonably be expected to perform; and (b) that the BWH Report 
notes that he was respectful and honest during the investigation and 
that he has participated conscientiously in a program of professional 
ethics counseling.  Therefore, PHS accepts the administrative actions 
previously imposed by BWH and performed by the respondent:  
(1) attending an ORI conference on research misconduct; and 
(2) participating in ethics counseling over a three-year period.

Dr. Shishov has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement in which 
he has voluntarily agreed 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 for a period of three (3) years, beginning on July 2, 2002.

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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