Notice Number: NOT-OD-16-020

Key Dates
Release Date: November 16, 2015

Issued by
Nation 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:

Dr. Maria C.P. Geraedts, University of Maryland, Baltimore: Based on the report of an investigation conducted by the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, ORI and UMB found that Dr. Maria C.P. Geraedts, former postdoctoral fellow, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology,
UMB, engaged in research misconduct in research supported by National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant R01 DC010110.

ORI found falsified and/or fabricated data included in the following two (2) publications:

• Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 303:E464-E474, 2012 (hereafter referred to as “AJP 2012”)
• Journal of Neuroscience 33(17):7559-7564, 2013 (hereafter referred to as “JN 2013”)

As a result of the UMB investigation, JN 2013 and AJP 2012 have been retracted.

ORI found that Respondent falsified and/or fabricated bar graphs in AJP 2012, by changing ELISA-based measurements to produce the desired result for secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) from intestinal explants from various mouse strains in:

• Figure 2 for GLP-1 release from duodenum (2A & D), jejunum (2B & E), and ileum (2C & F).
• Figure 3 for GLP-1 release from colon (3A & C) and rectum (3D).
• Figure 4 for GLP-1 release from ileum (4A) and colon (4C) in the presence or absence of an ATP-sensitive K+ channel inhibitor.

ORI found that Respondent falsified and/or fabricated bar graphs in Figure 1, JN 2013 by changing ELISA-based measurements to produce the desired result for the secretion of peptides found in taste buds (GLP-1, glucagon, or neuropeptide Y) from mouse lingual epithelium exposed to various concentrations of stimuli (glucose, sucralose, MSG, polycose). These bar graphs also were included as Figure 7 in grant application R01 DC010110-06.

Both the Respondent and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) want to conclude this matter without further expenditure of time or other resources and have entered into a Voluntary Settlement Agreement (Agreement) to resolve this matter. Respondent stated that she is not currently involved in U.S. Public Health Service (PHS)-supported research and has no intention of applying for or engaging in PHS-supported research or otherwise working with PHS. Respondent neither admits nor denies ORI’s findings of research misconduct; the settlement is not an admission of
liability on the part of the Respondent. Dr. Geraedts has entered into a Voluntary Settlement Agreement with ORI and UMB, in which she voluntarily agreed to the administrative actions set forth below. The administrative actions are required for three (3) years beginning on the date of Dr. Geraedts employment in a position in which she receives or applies for PHS support on or after the effective date of the Agreement (September 22, 2015). If the Respondent has not obtained employment in a research position in which she receives or applies for PHS support within one (1) year of the effective date of the Agreement, the administrative actions set forth below will no longer apply. Dr. Geraedts has voluntarily agreed:

(1) To have her research supervised as described below and notify her employer(s)/institution(s) of the terms of this supervision; Respondent agreed that prior to the submission of an application for PHS support for a research project on which her participation is proposed and prior to her participation in any capacity on PHS-supported research, Respondent shall ensure that a plan for supervision of her duties is submitted to ORI for approval; the supervision plan
must be designed to ensure the scientific integrity of her research contribution; Respondent agreed that she will not participate in any PHS-supported research until such a supervision plan is submitted to and approved by ORI; Respondent agreed to maintain responsibility for compliance with the agreed upon supervision plan;

(2) that any institution employing her shall 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 herself 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 for period of three (3) years beginning on September 22, 2015.

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