Findings of scientific misconduct.

FINDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC MISCONDUCT

Release Date: April 8, 2002

NOTICE: NOT-OD-02-043

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:

Matthew A. Lipski, Washington University in St. Louis:  Based on the report of 
an investigation conducted by the Washington University in St. Louis (WUSL) 
and additional analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review of related 
records, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) found that Matthew A. Lipski, 
former research patient assistant for WUSL on a subcontract from Hipco, Inc., 
engaged in scientific misconduct by falsifying and fabricating data in 
research supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Phase II Small 
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant 2 R44 AG12317-03, "Effect of padded 
underwear on hip fracture incidence."

Specifically, PHS found that Mr. Lipski falsified and fabricated data in a 
study examining whether wearing an undergarment with force distributing and 
absorbing pads positioned over the trochanteric regions of elderly nursing 
home residents could significantly reduce the number of hip fractures.  From 
July 2000 through October 2000, Mr. Lipski falsified and fabricated 
observational patient data in multiple research records.  Due to concerns over 
the reliability of all of Mr. Lipski's data, none of his data were used in the 
study.  No publications required correction or retraction.

Mr. Lipski has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement in which he has 
voluntarily agreed for a period of three (3) years, beginning on March 20, 
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. Lipski's 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. Lipski 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