Findings of scientific misconduct.

FINDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC MISCONDUCT

Release Date:  April 26, 2002

NOTICE:  NOT-OD-02-046

Department of Health and Human Services

Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) and the 
Assistant Secretary for Health have taken final action in the following case:

Joao Carlos deSales, San Francisco Department of Public Health:  Based on the 
report of an investigation conducted by the San Francisco Department of Public 
Health (SFDPH) and additional analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight 
review, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) found that Joao Carlos deSales, 
former study counselor at SFDPH, engaged in scientific misconduct by 
falsifying data supported under National Institutes of Health subcontract
SFP-N01-A1-35176-HMEISTERI-94 to SFDPH under National Institute of Allergy and 
Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, contract 5-N01-AI35176-019, ADomestic Master 
Contract for HIV Vaccine Efficacy Trials,@ awarded to ABT Associates, Inc.

Specifically, from April through September of 1999, Mr. deSales switched 
randomization assignments on four pairs of subjects and subsequently altered 
the research records to conceal his conduct.  Mr. deSales' switching of the 
randomization assignments, if undetected, could have biased the study so as to 
invalidate the conclusions on the effectiveness of intensive counseling 
sessions on reducing the rate of new HIV infections.

Mr. deSales has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement in which he has 
voluntarily agreed for a period of three (3) years, beginning on April 4, 
2002:

(1)  to exclude himself 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; and

(2)  that any institution that submits an application for PHS support for a 
research project on which Mr. deSales' participation is proposed or which uses 
him in any capacity on PHS supported research, or that submits a report of 
PHS-funded research in which Mr. deSales is involved, must concurrently submit 
a plan for supervision of his duties to the funding agency for approval.  The 
supervisory plan must be designed to ensure the scientific integrity of his 
research contribution.  A copy of the supervisory plan must also be submitted 
to ORI by the institution.

INQUIRIES

For further information contact:

Director
Division of Investigative Oversight
Office of Research Integrity
5515 Security Lane, Suite 700
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone:  301- 443-5330