• Skip to main content
  • Skip to main content
Choose which site to search.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Logo University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Research and Innovation: Office of Research Compliance
  • UAMS Health
  • Jobs
  • Giving
  • Compliance Education Program
    • Advanced Certified Research Specialist Program
      • Advanced Certified Research Specialist Program Requirements
      • Advanced Certified Research Specialist Registration
    • Certified Research Specialist Program
      • Bonny Hope Wallace Award for Excellence in Human Subject Research
      • Certified Research Specialist Program Proficiency Exam
      • Certified Research Specialist Program Registration
      • Certified Research Specialist Program Requirements
      • Maintaining Certification
    • Educational Resources
    • Forms
      • General Information About the Certified Research Specialist Program
    • Good Clinical Practice Training
    • HIPAA Training
    • Human Subject Protection Training (CITI)
    • Responsible Conduct of Research Training
    • Upcoming Advanced Certified Research Specialist Courses
    • Upcoming Certified Research Specialist Courses
  • Resources and Tools
    • Non-Human Research Use of DEA Controlled Substances
    • Setting Up Studies and/or Research Staff
      • Human Subject Protection Training (CITI)
    • Tools and Templates
      • Regulatory Binders
      • Subject Study File and Source Documentation
  • Compliance Reviews
    • New Investigation Consult and Education Reviews
    • Selection for Review
    • The Review Process
  • Reporting Research Concerns
    • Compliance Hotline FAQs
    • Research Misconduct
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • Helpful Links
  1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  2. Research and Innovation
  3. Office of Research Compliance
  4. News
  5. ORI Case Summary – Falsified data submitted to NIH

ORI Case Summary – Falsified data submitted to NIH

Case Summary: Cokonis, Melanie

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary

Findings of Research Misconduct

AGENCY:  Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION:  Notice.

SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) has taken final action in the following case:

Melanie Cokonis, Southern Research Institute:  Based on the report of an investigation conducted by Southern Research Institute (SRI) and additional analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, ORI found that Ms. Melanie Cokonis, former Research Technician, SRI, engaged in research misconduct in research supported by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), contracts N01-AI-30047 (HHSN2722011000009C) and N01-AI-70042 (HHSN272200700042C), and National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), NIH, grant U54 HG005034.

ORI found that the Respondent engaged in research misconduct by falsifying assay data that were submitted in reports to NIH.  Specifically, ORI found that Respondent knowingly falsified data for cytoprotection assays with antiviral compounds and provided the false data for inclusion in reports submitted to NIH for contracts N01-AI-30047 and N01-AI-70042 and grant U54 HG005034.  Respondent transferred raw data from 8X12 SoftmaxPro matrix files into spreadsheets and then falsified the numbers for cell control, virus control, drug cytotoxicity, drug only, and/or cells+ virus+ drug wells to make 206 assays appear to have been successfully performed when they were not.

Ms. Cokonis has voluntarily agreed for a period of three (3) years, beginning on May 29, 2014:

(1) to exclude herself from any contracting or subcontracting with any agency of the United States Government and from eligibility or involvement in nonprocurement programs of the United States Government referred to as “covered transactions” pursuant to HHS’ Implementation (2 C.F.R. Part 376 et seq) of OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension, 2 C.F.R. Part 180 (collectively the “Debarment Regulations”); and

(2) to exclude herself voluntarily 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.

Full Article

Posted by uamsonline on June 29, 2014

Filed Under: News

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences LogoUniversity of Arkansas for Medical SciencesUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Mailing Address: 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 686-7000
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

© 2023 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences