Findings of Scientific Misconduct

Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) has made a final finding of scientific misconduct in the following case: Ms. Rocio del Carmen Restrepo, University of Illinois at Chicago: Based on an investigation report by the University of Illinois at Chicago, dated March 25, 1998, as well as information obtained by ORI during its oversight review, ORI found that Ms. Restrepo, former research assistant, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, engaged in scientific misconduct in clinical research supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Specifically, Ms. Restrepo fabricated research data and submitted the data to the director of a project entitled ``Prenatal Provider- Patient Encounter.'' Data were fabricated in the records of 41 patients, including: dates on which Ms. Restrepo claimed to have conducted interviews in certain clinics; consent forms for patients; questionnaires from patients participating in the project; and false information in her ``Study Daily Logs'' that recorded each day's events. The fabricated data were not included in any publications. Ms. Restrepo has accepted the ORI finding and has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement with ORI in which she has voluntarily agreed, for the three (3) year period beginning December 7, 1998: (1) To exclude herself from serving in any advisory capacity to the Public Health Service (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 her participation is proposed or which uses her in any capacity on PHS supported research, or that submits a report of PHS-funded research in which she is involved, must concurrently submit a plan for supervision of her duties to the funding agency for approval. The supervisory plan must be designed to ensure the scientific integrity of Ms. Restrepo's research contribution. The institution also must submit a copy of the supervisory plan to ORI.