FINDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC MISCONDUCT

RELEASE DATE:  August 10, 2004

NOTICE:  NOT-OD-04-057

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

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:

Nancy J. Strout, Ph.D., University of Southern Maine: Based on the report of 
an inquiry conducted by the University of Southern Maine (USM) and additional 
analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, the U.S. Public Health 
Service (PHS) found that Nancy J. Strout, Ph.D., former interviewer, USM, 
engaged in scientific misconduct in research supported by Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) cooperative agreement UD1 
SM52362, ``Maine evaluation of consumer-operated services.'' 

Specifically, PHS found that the Respondent engaged in scientific misconduct 
by fabricating interview data for at least 50 interviews of human subjects 
enrolled in the Maine Evaluation of Consumer-Operated Services Project for 
mental health services, and possibly up to 150 interviews or more (based on 
calculations performed by USM), causing the project to nullify all 346 
interviews due to her involvement at one or more stages with the subjects.  

PHS also found that the Respondent is not presently responsible to be a 
steward of Federal funds because she falsified invoices for interviews and 
receipts for interview incentive payments in pursuit of a fraudulent scheme 
to obtain payment for services she did not render. 

Dr. Strout has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement in which she has 
voluntarily agreed for a period of three (3) years, beginning on July 23, 
2004: 

1. To exclude herself from any contracting or subcontracting with any agency 
of the United States Government and from eligibility or involvement in, 
nonprocurement programs of the United States Government as defined in the 
debarment regulations at 45 CFR Part 76; and
2. To exclude herself 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.

INQUIRIES

For further information contact:

Director
Division of Investigative Oversight
Office of Research Integrity
1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone:  301- 443-5330

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