Notice2026-08675
Findings of Research Misconduct
Primary source
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Published
May 5, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services Department
Abstract
Findings of research misconduct have been made against Ariel Fernandez, Ph.D. (also known as Ariel Fernandez Stigliano), former Karl F. Hasselmann Chaired Professor of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Rice University. Dr. Fernandez engaged in research misconduct under 42 CFR part 93 in research supported by U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) funds, specifically National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant R01 GM072614. Administrative actions, including debarment for a period of fifteen (15) years, were implemented and are detailed below.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24247-24249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08675]
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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 Ariel
Fernandez, Ph.D. (also known as Ariel Fernandez Stigliano), former Karl
F. Hasselmann Chaired Professor of Engineering, Department of
Bioengineering, Rice University. Dr. Fernandez engaged in research
misconduct under 42 CFR part 93 in research supported by U.S. Public
Health Service (PHS) funds, specifically National Institute of General
Medical Sciences (NIGMS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant
R01 GM072614. Administrative actions, including debarment for a period
of fifteen (15) 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) and the Suspension and Debarment Official
(SDO) have taken final action in the following case:
Ariel Fernandez, Ph.D., Rice University (Rice): Based on evidence
and findings of an investigation conducted by Rice, ORI's oversight
review of Rice's investigation, and additional evidence obtained and
analysis conducted by ORI during its oversight review, ORI found that
Dr. Ariel Fernandez (Respondent), former Karl F. Hasselmann Chaired
Professor of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Rice, engaged
in research misconduct under 42 CFR part 93 \1\ in research supported
by PHS funds, specifically NIGMS, NIH, grant R01 GM072614.
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\1\ In 2024, HHS revised 42 CFR part 93. 89 FR 76280 (Sept. 17,
2024). The revised Part 93 applies to allegations received on or
after January 1, 2026. Id. at 76289. Thus, the version of Part 93 in
effect prior to the revision applies to this research misconduct
proceeding. That prior version of Part 93 was promulgated in 2005
and is available at 70 FR 28370 (May 17, 2005). Citations to Part 93
within this document refer to Part 93 as set forth in the 2005
Federal Register notice, which is available at <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2005/05/17/05-9643/public-health-service-policies-on-research-misconduct">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2005/05/17/05-9643/public-health-service-policies-on-research-misconduct</a>.
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ORI found by a preponderance of the evidence that Respondent
intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly fabricated and/or falsified the
synthesis of six (6) novel chemical compounds; figures of Western blots
and confocal microscopy images by copying, manipulating, and relabeling
images; and the results of spectrophotometric kinetic assays, high-
throughput kinase screening, cell proliferation assays, adsorption/
desorption assays, and ATP production assays in twelve (12) PHS-
supported papers, four (4) PHS-supported submitted, unpublished
manuscripts, one (1) PHS-supported presentation, and three (3) PHS
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 published and unpublished
papers, grant applications, and presentation are:
<bullet> Structure 2005;13:1829-36. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2005.08.018
(hereafter referred to as ``Struct05''). Notice of addendum and
supporting information: Structure 2006;14:947. doi: 10.1016/
j.str.2006.05.006 (``Struct05 Addendum'').
<bullet> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2006;103:323-8. doi: 10.1073/
pnas.0509351102 (hereafter referred to as ``PNAS06''). Retraction in:
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2006;103:4329. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0601034103.
<bullet> J. Med. Chem. 2006;49:3092-100. doi: 10.1021/jm060163j
(hereafter referred to as ``JMC06'').
<bullet> Biomol. Eng. 2006;23:307-15. doi: 10.1016/
j.bioeng.2006.09.004 (hereafter referred to as ``BioE06'').
<bullet> Cancer Res. 2007;67:4028-33. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-
07-0345 (hereafter referred to as ``CR07''). Correction in: Cancer Res.
2013;73:6375. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-13-2601.
<bullet> Front. Biosci. 2007;12:3617-27. doi: 10.2741/2338
(hereafter referred to as ``FBS07'').
<bullet> J. Phys. Chem. B 2007;111:13987-92. doi: 10.1021/jp074479u
(hereafter referred to as ``JPCB07'').
<bullet> Mol. Pharm. 2008;5:430-7. doi: 10.1021/mp700148h
(hereafter referred to as ``MP08'').
--Supporting information was made available online at the time MP08 was
published (hereafter referred to as ``MP08 Original Supporting
Information'').
--In July 2008, MP08 Original Supporting Information was replaced with
revised supporting information (hereafter referred to as ``MP08 Revised
Supporting Information'').
--A notice of the MP08 Revised Supporting Information was published at
Mol Pharm 2008;5:680. doi: 10.1021/mp8000777. In December 2009, an
addendum to the MP08 Revised Supporting Information was published
(hereafter referred to as ``MP08 Addendum to Supporting Information'').
A notice of the addendum was published at Mol Pharm 2010;7:306. doi:
10.1021/mp9002893. An acknowledgement addendum was published in March
2010 at Mol Pharm 2010;7:1877. doi: 10.1021/mp100057w.
<bullet> J. Med. Chem. 2008;51:4890-8. doi: 10.1021/jm800453a
(hereafter referred to as ``JMC08'').
<bullet> ACS Nano 2008;2:61-8. doi: 10.1021/nn700239j (hereafter
referred to as ``NANO08''). Correction in: ACS Nano 2012;6:6525. doi:
10.1021/nn302352t.
<bullet> Drug Discov. Today 2009;14:1-5. doi: 10.1016/
j.drudis.2008.10.008 (hereafter referred to as ``DDT09'').
<bullet> Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 2009;30:403-10. doi: 10.1016/
[[Page 24248]]
j.tips.2009.06.001 (hereafter referred to as ``TiPS09'').
<bullet> Engineering drug selectivity through a packing-based
kinase classifier. Original manuscript submitted to Journal of
Molecular Biology in 2006 (hereafter referred to as ``JMBsub06'').
<bullet> Editors of anticancer kinase inhibitors for side-effect
removal. Original manuscript submitted to Cancer Research in 2009
(hereafter referred to as ``CRsub09'').
<bullet> Editors of anticancer kinase inhibitors for side-effect
removal. Original manuscript submitted to Nature Biotechnology in 2009
(hereafter referred to as ``NBTsub09'').
<bullet> Selective antagonism of anticancer drugs for side-effect
removal. Original manuscript submitted to Trends in Pharmacological
Sciences in 2009 (hereafter referred to as ``TiPSsub09'').
<bullet> Selectivity filter for drug discovery: Evolutionary
insights into the control and personalization of drug specificity.
PowerPoint presentation at the Morgridge Institute for Research
(hereafter referred to as the ``Morgridge PowerPoint'').
<bullet> X02 RR023858-01, ``Molecular theranostic engineering,''
submitted to the National Center for Research Resources, NIH on April
14, 2006, unfunded.
<bullet> R01 CA138431-01, ``Kinome-wide atlas of specificity-
promoting features for anticancer drug therapy,'' submitted to the
National Cancer Institute, NIH, on May 8, 2008, unfunded.
<bullet> R01 LM010169-01, ``Bioinformatics platform to control drug
cross reactivity,'' submitted to the National Library of Medicine, NIH,
on December 18, 2008, unfunded.
Specifically, ORI found by a preponderance of the evidence that
Respondent engaged in research misconduct by intentionally, knowingly,
or recklessly fabricating and/or falsifying:
<bullet> the syntheses of six (6) novel chemical compounds reported
in: MP08, MP08 Original Supporting Information, MP08 Revised Supporting
Information, MP08 Addendum to Supporting Information (``Entropy
Jolt''); NBTsub09, NBTsub09 supplementary materials (``NBTsub09 Supp.
Mat.''), CRsub09, CRsub09 supplementary materials (``CRsub09 Supp.
Mat.''), TiPSsub09, TiPS09 (``SUDE''); Struct05, Struct05 Addendum,
PNAS06, JMBsub06 supporting materials (``JMBsub06 Supp. Mat.'').
(``Wrapper 1''); JMBsub06, JMBsub06 Supp. Mat., PNAS06 (``Wrapper 2'');
JMC06, JMBsub06, JMBsub06 Supp. Mat., FBS07, JMC08, JMC08 supporting
information (``JMC08 Supp. Info.'') (``Compound 9''); and JMC08, JMC08
Supp. Info. (``Compound 10'')
<bullet> figures of Western blots by copying previously published
images and altering and/or relabeling those images in twenty-four (24)
figures reported in three (3) manuscripts submitted by Respondent and
two (2) figures reported in one (1) PowerPoint presentation by
Respondent: Figures 2b, 2c, 2e, 2f, 2g, 3d, and 3f and Supplemental
Figures 1, 2, and 3 in NBTsub09; Figures 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 5B, 5C,
6A, 6B, and 6D in CRsub09; Figures 4 and 5 in TiPSsub09; and the
figures in Slides 15 and 31 of the Morgridge PowerPoint presentation
<bullet> the results of spectrophotometric kinetic assays reported
in Figure 5c of BioE06, Figure 9 of FBS07, Figure 6 of JMC06, Figure 8
of MP08, Figures 5E and 6B of PNAS06, and Figure 4D of Struct05;
Figures 3d and 4c of unpublished manuscript JMBsub06; and Figures 6 and
9 of NIH grant application X02 RR023858-01
<bullet> the results of high-throughput kinase screening reported
in: MP08 (Figure 9 and associated text); JMC08 (Figures 4 and 7 and
associated text and tables); DDT09 (text description), unpublished
manuscript CRsub09 and CRsub09 Supp. Mat. (Figure S2 (A-C) and
associated text); and two NIH grant applications R01 CA138431-01 and
R01 LM010169-01 (Figure 8 and associated text in both applications)
<bullet> results of cell proliferation and other experiments
involving SUDE and WBZ_4, including Figure 3 reported in TiPS09
<bullet> Figure 3b of NANO08, Figure 2h of NBTsub09, and
Supplemental Figure S3 of CRsub09 by copying and manipulating confocal
microscopy images from other papers and relabeling them to report
falsely different experiments
<bullet> the results of adsorption/desorption assays reported in
Figure 2b of NANO08 and Figure 3 of JPCB07
<bullet> the results of cell proliferation assays involving the
compound SUDE reported in Figure 5a of CRsub09, Figure 3e of NBTsub09,
and Figure 3 of TiPSsub09
<bullet> the results of ATP production assays involving the
compound SUDE reported in Figure 5d (bottom graph) of CRsub09 and
Figure 3g (bottom graph) of NBTsub09
<bullet> images of Western blots in Figure 10 of MP08 and in Figure
4B of CR07
ORI issued a charge letter enumerating the above findings of
research misconduct and proposing HHS administrative actions of a
fifteen-year ban on PHS advisory services and correction of
Respondent's research record. Based on the information in the
administrative record, and as part of the charge letter, the HHS SDO
proposed a fifteen-year period of debarment under 2 CFR 180.800(d)--
``Any other cause that is so serious or compelling in nature that it
affects your present responsibility'' to protect the Federal
Government's interest.
Respondent requested a hearing before an administrative law judge
(ALJ) with the Departmental Appeals Board to contest the research
misconduct findings and proposed administrative actions under 42 CFR
part 93, including the proposed debarment. ORI filed a motion for
summary judgment, which Respondent opposed, and Respondent filed a
cross motion for summary judgment. On May 22, 2025, the ALJ issued a
recommended decision to the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)
granting summary judgment in favor of HHS. The Acting ASH opted not to
review the ALJ decision, and ORI's research misconduct findings
therefore became final under 42 CFR 93.523. The decision constituted
findings of fact to the HHS Debarring Official in accordance with 2 CFR
180.845(c). On March 25, 2026, the HHS SDO issued a final notice of
debarment.
Accordingly, the following administrative actions have been
implemented:
(1) For a period of fifteen (15) years, beginning on March 25,
2026, Respondent is debarred from participating in ``covered
transactions'' as defined in 2 CFR 180.200 and procurement transactions
covered under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR chapter 1).
(2) For a period of fifteen (15) years, beginning on June 22, 2025,
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.
(3) ORI will send a notice to the pertinent journals of the
following eleven (11) papers that require retraction and/or correction,
in accordance with 42 CFR 93.407(a)(1) and 93.411(b):
<bullet> Structure 2005;13:1829-36
<bullet> J. Med. Chem. 2006;49:3092-100
<bullet> Biomol. Eng. 2006;23:307-15
<bullet> Cancer Res. 2007;67:4028-33
<bullet> Front. Biosci. 2007;12:3617-27
<bullet> J. Phys. Chem. B 2007;111:13987-92
<bullet> Mol. Pharm. 2008;5:430-7
<bullet> J. Med. Chem. 2008;51:4890-8
<bullet> ACS Nano 2008;2:61-8
<bullet> Drug Discov. Today 2009;14:1-5
<bullet> Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 2009;30:403-10
[[Page 24249]]
Dated: April 30, 2026.
Sheila R. Garrity,
Director, Office of Research Integrity, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Health.
[FR Doc. 2026-08675 Filed 5-4-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-31-P
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