Anonymous ID: dbf0d4 March 25, 2019, 2:46 p.m. No.5888048   🗄️.is 🔗kun

Duke to pay government $112.5M for using fake data to obtain research grants

 

DURHAM, N.C. — Duke University officials announced Monday that the school will pay $112.5 million to the federal government to settle a lawsuit over falsified data on research projects that was used to obtain grants from the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies.

 

Officials said the alleged misconduct occurred from 2006 to 2013, when Duke officials fired Erin Potts-Kant, the technician accused of fabricating the data, for embezzling grant funds from the university over the same period.

 

"We expect Duke researchers to adhere always to the highest standards of integrity, and virtually all of them do that with great dedication," Duke President Vincent Price said in a statement. "When individuals fail to uphold those standards, and those who are aware of possible wrongdoing fail to report it, as happened in this case, we must accept responsibility, acknowledge that our processes for identifying and preventing misconduct did not work, and take steps to improve."

 

The $112.5 million payment includes both reimbursement for grants received as a result of the falsified data and associated penalties.

 

Duke has taken the following steps to improve the quality and integrity of research conducted on campus:

 

Appointed an Advisory Panel on Research Integrity and Excellence, chaired by Ann M. Arvin, professor of pediatrics and microbiology and former vice provost and dean of research at Stanford University, and including Edward M. Stolper, William E. Leonhard Professor of Geology and former provost of the California Institute of Technology, and Barry S. Coller, David Rockefeller Professor, physician in chief and vice president for medical affairs at Rockefeller University. The advisory panel will provide recommendations for improving the structure and function of research administration, with a focus on promoting research integrity, by June 30.

Established a new, integrated leadership structure for research to provide clear and consistent policy guidance, oversight and accountability for all research at Duke University and Duke Health.

Launched an initiative to promote values and a culture of excellence and accountability at Duke.

Created an Executive Oversight Committee, chaired by Chancellor for Health Affairs A. Eugene Washington and including senior leadership and faculty, and a related Faculty Advisory Committee to oversee the ongoing implementation of Duke’s research excellence initiative.

 

https://www.wral.com/duke-to-pay-government-112-5m-for-using-fake-data-to-obtain-research-grants/18283160/