FINDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC MISCONDUCT

Release Date:  January 20, 1999

P.T.

Department of Health and Human Services

Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) has made a
final finding of scientific misconduct in the following case:

Saptarshi Paul, Ph.D., Fox Chase Cancer Center:  Based on a report forwarded to
the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) by Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC),
Institute for Cancer Research, dated July 28, 1997, Dr. Paul�s admissions, and
information obtained by ORI during its oversight review, ORI found that Dr. Paul,
former research associate, Molecular Oncology Division, FCCC, engaged in
scientific misconduct in biomedical research funded by a National Cancer
Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant.  This project seeks
improvements in cancer treatment through the development of agents that fight
cellular resistance to drugs.

Specifically, Dr. Paul falsified an experiment on the uptake of all-trans
retinoic acid (ATR) by HL60 cells conducted by several researchers during July
1997.  Although this experiment was not published, the discovery of the falsified
data led to admissions by Dr. Paul that he had altered an experiment and an
acknowledgment that publications would need to be retracted.  Several
publications were retracted in whole or in part, and portions of two grant
applications were retracted.

Dr. Paul has accepted the ORI finding and has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion
Agreement with ORI in which he has voluntarily agreed, for the three (3) year
period beginning December 18, 1998:  (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); and (2) to exclude himself from serving in any
advisory capacity to the Public Health Service (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:

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

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