Notice2023-19086
Findings of Research Misconduct
Primary source
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Published
September 5, 2023
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services Department
Abstract
Findings of research misconduct have been made against Ivana Frech, Ph.D. (formerly Ivana De Domenico) (Respondent), former Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah (UU) School of Medicine. Respondent engaged in research misconduct in research supported by U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) funds, specifically National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grants R01 DK070947, R01 DK090257, and R01 DK030534, National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), NIH, grant P50 GM082545, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, grant R01 AI051174, and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH, grant R01 HL026922. The administrative actions, including debarment for a period of three (3) years, were implemented beginning on August 21, 2023, and are detailed below.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 170 (Tuesday, September 5, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60694-60695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19086]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary
Findings of Research Misconduct
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Findings of research misconduct have been made against Ivana
Frech, Ph.D. (formerly Ivana De Domenico) (Respondent), former
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of
Utah (UU) School of Medicine. Respondent engaged in research misconduct
in research supported by U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) funds,
specifically National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grants R01
DK070947, R01 DK090257, and R01 DK030534, National Institute of General
Medical Sciences (NIGMS), NIH, grant P50 GM082545, National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, grant R01 AI051174,
and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH, grant R01
HL026922. The administrative actions, including debarment for a period
of three (3) years, were implemented beginning on August 21, 2023, and
are detailed below.
[[Page 60695]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila Garrity, JD, MPH, MBA,
Director, Office of Research Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite
240, Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 453-8200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that the Office of
Research Integrity (ORI) has taken final action in the following case:
Ivana Frech, Ph.D. (formerly Ivana De Domenico), University of
Utah: Based on the evidence and findings of an investigation conducted
by UU, ORI's oversight review of UU's investigation, and additional
analysis conducted by ORI during its oversight review, ORI found that
Ivana Frech, Ph.D. (formerly Ivana De Domenico), former Assistant
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, UU School of Medicine,
engaged in research misconduct under 42 CFR part 93 in research
supported by PHS funds, specifically NIDDK, NIH, grants R01 DK070947,
R01 DK090257, and R01 DK030534, NIGMS, NIH, grant P50 GM082545, NIAID,
NIH, grant R01 AI051174, and NHLBI, NIH, grant R01 HL026922.
ORI found by a preponderance of the evidence that Respondent
intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly falsified and/or fabricated
western blot and autoradiogram images related to mechanisms of cellular
iron regulation by reusing, relabeling, and manipulating images to
falsely report data in eight (8) figures included in the following
three (3) PHS-supported published papers:
<bullet> Two Distinct Modes of ESCRT-III Recognition are Required
for VPS4 Functions in Lysosomal Protein Targeting and HIV-1 Budding.
Dev Cell. 2008 Jul;15(1):62-73. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2008.05.014
(hereafter referred to as ``Dev. Cell 2008'').
<bullet> The Role of Ubiquitination in Hepcidin-independent and
Hepcidin-dependent Degradation of Ferroportin. Cell Metab. 2011 Nov
2;14(5):635-46. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2011.09.008 (hereafter referred to
as ``Cell Met. Nov. 2011'') Retracted: Cell Met. 2012 Jun 6;15(6):927.
doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2012.04.107.
<bullet> Decoupling Ferritin Synthesis from Free Cytosolic Iron
Results in Ferritin Secretion. Cell Metab. 2011 Jan 5;13(1):57-67. doi:
10.1016/j.cmet.2010.12.003 (hereafter referred to as ``Cell Met. Jan.
2011''). Retracted: Cell Met. 2012 Jun 6;15(6):927. doi: 10.1016/
j.cmet.2012.04.012.
ORI found that these acts constitute a significant departure from
accepted practices of the relevant research community. Specifically,
ORI found by a preponderance of the evidence that Respondent engaged in
research misconduct by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly
falsifying and/or fabricating:
<bullet> a western blot image in Figure 5B (right bottom panel) of Dev.
Cell 2008 by reusing and relabeling an image of three western blot
bands to represent the results of different experiments
<bullet> western blot images in Figure 1C (top and bottom panels) of
Cell Met. Nov. 2011 by reusing and relabeling an image of western blot
bands to represent the results of two different experiments
<bullet> western blot images in Figures 1D and 3 of Cell Met. Nov. 2011
by reusing and relabeling one image to represent the results of two
different experiments
<bullet> western blot images in Figures 2Aii and 2B of Cell Met. Nov.
2011 by reusing and relabeling one image as representing the results of
two different experiments
<bullet> western blot images in Figures 2Aii and 5 of Cell Met. Nov.
2011 by reusing and relabeling one image as representing the results of
two different experiments
<bullet> images in Figure 4B (top and bottom left panels) of Cell Met.
Jan. 2011 by reusing and relabeling an image of an autoradiogram to
misrepresent the reported experimental conditions and results
The following administrative actions have been implemented:
(1) For a period of three (3) years, beginning on August 21, 2023,
Respondent is debarred from participating in ``covered transactions''
as defined in 42 CFR 180.200 and procurement transactions covered under
the Federal Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR chapter 1).
(2) Respondent is prohibited 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 August 21, 2023.
(3) In accordance with 42 CFR 93.407(a)(1) and 93.411(b), HHS will
send to the journal Developmental Cell a notice of ORI's findings and
the need for retraction or correction of Dev Cell. 2008 Jul;15(1):62-
73. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2008.05.014.
Dated: August 30, 2023.
Sheila Garrity,
Director, Office of Research Integrity, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Health.
[FR Doc. 2023-19086 Filed 9-1-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-31-P
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