University-of-Alabama-Birmingham-Office-of-Research-Integrity-Complaint-7-13-21

7/13/21 Division of Investigative Oversight Office of Research Integrity U.S.. Runko, I am writing to you today to insist that your office immediately launch an investigation of potentia

Alexander Runko, Ph.D 7/13/21

Division of Investigative Oversight

Office of Research Integrity

U.S Department of Health and Human Services

1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 240

Rockville, Maryland 20852

Via email: AskORI@hhs.gov

Alexander.Runko@hhs.gov

Dr Runko,

I am writing to you today to insist that your office immediately launch an investigation of potential

Research Misconduct at the University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB)

I have obtained (via FOIA) a UAB report which involves a whistleblower complaint regarding

mishandling of animals, falsification of records, etc in a project involving non-human primates The

initial telephone log of the incident references: “Faculty members falsifying animal records.”

The later more complete report states: “On October 28, 2020, the IACUC received allegations of

non-compliance by two members of the same lab One person was a faculty member (not the PI of the protocol) and the other a visiting scientist The species were NHPs and federal funding was involved under award number U19AI090959 The Allegations included:

*Inadequate restraint of animals for minor experimental and/or diagnostic procedures

*Recording specific values in animal records, without performing the corresponding necessary measurements , e.g., pulse rate, blood pressure, weight, fluid input/output

*Recording inaccurate time of drug administration in animal records.”

This incident, which involves a federally funded project, would clearly meet the definition of Research Misconduct, as stated on the ORI website:

“Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results

(a) Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them

(b) Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record

(c) Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit

(d) Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion.”

Clearly, falsifying the records of animals used in experimentation would qualify as Research

Misconduct because:

“Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.”

I believe this would be in the category of Fabrication: “making up data or results and recording or

reporting them.”

Therefore, you must launch a full investigation of the events discussed in the UAB report, and at the end of the investigation I am certain that the events surrounding this project will be judged to

constitute Research Misconduct

I will expect a response from your office within 5 business days

Sincerely,

Michael A Budkie, A.H.T.,

Executive Director, SAEN

Attachments: 1 UAB Report

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