2013-10-15.inquiry report - redacted - reduced size

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IOWA STATEUNIVERSITYOF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Confidential

Date: October 15, 2013

To: Dr. Charlotte Bronson

Associate Vice President for Research and Research Integrity Officer

Dr. Michael Cho (Complainant)

Professor and Lloyd Chair in Biomedical SciencesDepartment of Biomedical Sciences

Dr. Dong-Pyou Han (Respondent)

Former Research Assistant Professor

Department of Biomedical Sciences

Cc: Dr. Jonathan Wickert

Senior Vice President and Provost

Dr. Lisa Nolan

Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Anumantha KanthasamyChair, Department of Biomedical Sciences

From: Dr. David J. OliverInterim Vice President for Research and Economic Development

Re: Research Misconduct Case #002 Decision of Vice President for Research and

Economic Development

I received the attached report titled Report of Inquiry into Research Misconduct Case

#002 dated October 9, 2013 from Dr. Charlotte R. Bronson, the Iowa State UniversityResearch Integrity Officer. In accordance with Section 3.7 of the Research Misconduct

Policy, as the Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development, I am

required to review the Report and determine whether an investigation is warranted.

David J. Oliver

Vice President for

Research and Economic Development

2610 Beardshear Hall

Iowa State University

Ames, IA 50011- 2036Phone: 515-294-6344

Fax: 515-294-6100


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I have carefully and thoroughly reviewed the Report. It details the origin of the

complaint, the process for uncovering the respondent, the respondents admission that he

engaged in the alleged research misconduct, and the information and documentation hehas provided concerning his motivations and processes.

Based on my review of the Report, I have decided the following:

That allegation #1 - spiking sera samples from rabbits immunized with gp41-54Q (and

related antigens HR1-54Q, gp41-54Q-OG, gp41-54Q-GHC, gp41-54Q-Cys, and Cys-gp41-

54Q), a portion of the envelope protein of HIV-1, with human sera containing HIV

antibodies to make it appear that gp41-54Q produced broadly neutralizing antibodies

be closed without further investigation.

That allegation #2 - spiking sera samples from rabbits immunized with gp41-54Q with

rabbit gp120 antibodies - be closed without further investigation.

That allegation #3 - changing data in files of neutralization experiments to make it

appear that rabbits immunized with gp41-54Q and recombinant Lactobacillus

expressing gp41-64 (LAB gp41-64) produced broadly neutralizing antibodies be

closed without further investigation.

These recommendations are based on the unusual circumstances of this case where the

Respondent was identified by an independent analysis of the data, the Respondent

admitted that he was responsible for the misconduct, and the Respondent subsequentlyresigned from his employment at Iowa State. Moreover, the evidence and statements of

the Respondent show that no one else was involved in the misconduct and there isnothing additional to be learned from an investigation.

The National Institutes of Health funded the research in which the misconduct occurred.

The Public Health Service Policies on Research Misconduct, which are applicable to this

research, require an institution to notify the Office of Research Integrity if an institutionplans to close a case on the basis that a respondent has admitted guilt. Accordingly, I

direct Dr. Bronson, as Iowa State Universitys Research Integrity Officer, to submit a

copy of this decision and the Final Inquiry Report to the Office of Research Integrity andnotify it of Iowa State Universitys intent to close this case. Materials relating to this

case should be kept secure until the Office of Research Integrity makes its decision on

whether to approve closure of this case.

If the Office of Research Integrity approves closing this case, then I direct the parties to

proceed with items 3 and 4 in the Recommendations section of the Report unless the

Office of Research Integrity directs otherwise.


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