Notice Number: NOT-OD-15-114

Key Dates
Release Date: June 19, 2015

Issued by
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Purpose

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) has taken final action in the following case:

Ryan Asherin, Oregon Health Authority: Based on the report of an investigation conducted by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, ORI found that Ryan Asherin, former Surveillance Officer and Principal Investigator, OHA, Public Health Division engaged in research misconduct in research supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emerging Infections Program Grant 5U01CI00306-05.

ORI found that the Respondent engaged in research misconduct by falsifying and/or fabricating data that were included in the CDC research record, a manuscript submitted to JAMA Intern Med in January 2013, a published CDC report (CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 61(09):157-162, March 2012), and presentations in 2012 to CDC and at the 11th Biennial Congress of the Anaerobe Society.

ORI found that the Respondent falsified and/or fabricated fifty-six (56) case report forms (CRFs) while acquiring data on the incidence of Clostridium difficile infections in Klamath County, Oregon.

Specifically, the Respondent (1) fabricated responses to multiple questions on the CRFs for patient demographic data, patient health information, and Clostridium difficile infection data, including the diagnoses of toxic megacolon and ileus and the performance of a colectomy, with no evidence in patient medical records to support the responses; and (2) falsified the CRFs by omitting data on the CRFs that clearly were included in patient medical records.

Mr. Asherin has entered into a Voluntary Settlement Agreement (Agreement) and has voluntarily agreed for a period of two (2) years, beginning on May 12, 2015:

(1) To have his research supervised; Respondent agrees that prior to submission of an application for U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) support for a research project on which the Respondent's participation is proposed and prior to Respondent's participation in any capacity on PHS-supported research, Respondent shall ensure that a plan for supervision of Respondent's duties is submitted to ORI for approval; the supervision plan must be designed to ensure the scientific integrity of Respondent's research contribution; Respondent agrees that he will not participate in any PHS-supported research until such a supervision plan is submitted to and approved by ORI; Respondent agrees to maintain responsibility for compliance with the agreed upon supervision plan;

(2) that any institution employing him must submit, in conjunction with each application for PHS funds, or report, manuscript, or abstract involving PHS-supported research in which Respondent is involved, a certification to ORI that the data provided by Respondent are based on actual experiments or are otherwise legitimately derived and that the data, procedures, and methodology are accurately reported in the application, report, manuscript, or abstract; and

(3) to exclude himself voluntarily 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

Please direct all inquiries to:

Donald Wright, M.D., M.P.H.
Acting Director
Office of Research Integrity
1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750
Rockville, MD 20852
Telephone: 240-453-8800