Notice2026-02505
Findings of Research Misconduct
Primary source
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Published
February 9, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services Department
Abstract
Findings of research misconduct have been made against Daniel Andrade, Ph.D., former Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center. Dr. Andrade engaged in research misconduct under 42 CFR part 93 in research included in two (2) grant applications submitted for U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) funds, specifically DP2 OD030789-01 submitted to the Office of the Director (OD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and R21 CA253956-01 submitted to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH. Administrative actions, including supervision for a period of three (3) years, were implemented and are detailed below.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 26 (Monday, February 9, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5774-5776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02505]
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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 Daniel
Andrade, Ph.D., former Assistant
[[Page 5775]]
Professor of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and
Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center.
Dr. Andrade engaged in research misconduct under 42 CFR part 93 in
research included in two (2) grant applications submitted for U.S.
Public Health Service (PHS) funds, specifically DP2 OD030789-01
submitted to the Office of the Director (OD), National Institutes of
Health (NIH), and R21 CA253956-01 submitted to the National Cancer
Institute (NCI), NIH. Administrative actions, including supervision for
a period of three (3) years, were implemented and are detailed below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila R. 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:
Daniel Andrade, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma Health Science Center
(OUHSC): Based on evidence obtained during a research misconduct
investigation conducted by OUHSC and ORI's oversight review of OUHSC's
investigation, ORI found that Daniel Andrade, Ph.D. (Respondent),
former Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology and Stephenson Cancer Center, OUHSC, engaged in research
misconduct under 42 CFR part 93 in research included in two (2) grant
applications submitted for PHS funds, specifically DP2 OD030789-01
submitted to OD, NIH, and R21 CA253956-01 submitted to NCI, NIH.
ORI found by a preponderance of the evidence that Respondent
intentionally and knowingly falsified and/or fabricated data included
in two (2) grant applications submitted for PHS funds. ORI found that
these acts constitute a significant departure from accepted practices
of the relevant research community. The affected grant applications
are:
<bullet> DP2 OD030789-01, ``Exosomes as Liquid Biopsies: Biomarkers for
Tumor Heterogeneity and Subclonal Evolution,'' submitted to OD, NIH, on
August 20, 2020
<bullet> R21 CA253956-01, ``miRNA signatures that predict
chemoradiation response and resistance in cervical cancer using
patient-derived organoids and their exosomes,'' submitted to the NCI,
NIH, on November 18, 2019
Specifically, ORI found by a preponderance of the evidence that
Respondent engaged in research misconduct by intentionally and
knowingly falsifying and/or fabricating:
<bullet> Exosome Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) data by
relabeling data obtained from a cell line as data derived from cancer
Patient-Derived Organoids (PDOs) and reporting the falsely relabeled
NTA graph to the Principal Investigator (PI), who included it in Figure
2D of grant application DP2 OD030789-01.
<bullet> Western blot data by splicing together blot image panels
from separate unrelated experiments on different cell lines to depict a
composite image of western blot data derived from exosomes of cancer
PDOs and reporting the western blot composite image to the PI, who
included it in Figure 2E of grant application DP2 OD030789-01.
<bullet> Transmission Electron Micrograph (TEM) image data in
Figure 3B of his grant application R21 CA253956-01 by falsely reporting
that the TEM image was obtained from patient serum when the image was
from another source.
On December 8, 2024, based on the information in the administrative
record, ORI proposed a three-year period of supervision under 42 CFR
Sec. 93.407(a)(7) and a three-year period of prohibition from PHS
advisory service under 42 CFR 93.407(a)(9). HHS provided Respondent the
opportunity to contest the proposed administrative actions under 42 CFR
part 93 by requesting a hearing before an administrative law judge with
the HHS Departmental Appeals Board. Respondent did not contest within
the prescribed 30-day notice period. Accordingly, the following
administrative actions have been implemented:
<bullet> Respondent will have his PHS-supported research activities
supervised for a period of three (3) years beginning on January 11,
2026 (the ``Supervision Period''). During the Supervision Period, prior
to his participation in any capacity in PHS-supported research
activities, he must submit a plan for supervision of his duties to ORI
for approval. He may only participate in PHS-supported research
activities if a supervision plan is approved by ORI and he complies
with the approved plan. The requirements for Respondent's supervision
plan are as follows:
--Committee oversight. The supervision plan must designate a committee
of at least two senior researchers at the institution employing
Respondent who are familiar with his field of research and are not his
supervisor or collaborators to oversee his PHS-supported research
activities during the Supervision Period.
[ssquf] Review of primary data. The supervision plan must provide
for the committee to review primary data generated by or for Respondent
through PHS-supported research activities on a quarterly basis.
[ssquf] Advance reviews. The supervision plan must provide for the
committee to conduct advance reviews of any reporting of PHS-supported
research activities in which Respondent is or was involved, including
reporting in manuscripts, abstracts, progress reports, or applications
or proposals for PHS funding, to ensure his contributions are supported
by the primary data. The advance reviews must include discussion with
Respondent.
[ssquf] Reporting to ORI. The supervision plan must include a
requirement for the committee to submit a report to ORI at 6-month
intervals. The report must identify any primary data reviewed, the date
of review, and the results of the review. The report also must
summarize any advance reviews conducted by the committee. Additionally,
the report must verify that Respondent is complying with accepted
research practices.
<bullet> During the Supervision Period, Respondent must ensure that
any institution employing him submits, in conjunction with each
application for PHS funds, or each report, manuscript, or abstract
involving PHS-supported research activities in which Respondent was
involved, a certification to ORI and the funding agency that the data
provided by Respondent are based on actual experiments and legitimately
derived, and that the data, procedures, and methodology are accurately
reported.
<bullet> If Respondent does not have a supervision plan approved by
ORI during the Supervision Period, Respondent must submit a written
statement to ORI at the conclusion of the Supervision Period certifying
that he has not participated in PHS-supported research activities
during the Supervision Period.
<bullet> 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 January 11,
2026.
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Dated: February 5, 2026.
Sheila R. Garrity,
Director, Office of Research Integrity, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Health.
[FR Doc. 2026-02505 Filed 2-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-31-P
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