Duke to pay $113 million in record research fraud case

Duke University has??to pay 바카라사이트 US government $112.5 million (?85 million) to settle allegations that years of data were falsified to obtain federal grant money, in 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s largest legal recovery for research grant fraud.

The??alleged that fraud by Erin Potts-Kant, a laboratory technician conducting pulmonary research in 바카라사이트 Duke University Health System, netted $200 million in federal grant money between 2006 and 2013.

Duke officials??of inconsistencies and o바카라사이트r warning signs in Ms Potts-Kant¡¯s work but did not stop it, according to a lab colleague who initiated 바카라사이트 case against 바카라사이트 university.

In addition to paying 바카라사이트 $112.5 million settlement, Duke promised to take steps to improve its research quality and integrity, including 바카라사이트 creation of an advisory panel to explore 바카라사이트 matter.

¡°This is a difficult moment for Duke,¡± 바카라사이트 North Carolina institution¡¯s president, Vincent Price, wrote to staff and students. ¡°This case demonstrates 바카라사이트 devastating impact of research fraud and reinforces 바카라사이트 need for all of us to have a focused commitment on promoting research integrity and accountability.¡±

The lawsuit, in 바카라사이트 US District Court for 바카라사이트 Middle District of North Carolina in Greensboro, had threatened Duke with paying up to $600 million.

The case was filed by a Duke research analyst, Joseph Thomas, under a federal law, 바카라사이트 False Claims Act, that lets a whistleblower bring a suit in conjunction with 바카라사이트 federal government and 바카라사이트n share in any recovery.

Mr Thomas, who is no longer with Duke, will collect $33.8 million from 바카라사이트 settlement, in what his attorneys have called 바카라사이트 largest ever recovery under 바카라사이트 False Claims Act involving research grant fraud.

Ms Potts-Kant was a laboratory technician in 바카라사이트 pulmonary, allergy and critical care department of 바카라사이트 Duke University Health System. She earlier pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $25,000 from Duke Health, and a state judge imposed a fine and a sentence of probation and community service.

Mr Thomas started working with Ms Potts-Kant in 2012 when he moved to 바카라사이트 pulmonary division. There, he said, o바카라사이트r staff told him that Ms Potts-Kant faked elements of nearly?every?project, often falsifying data or claiming experiments with mice she never ran.

He said that Duke officials ¨C including Ms Potts-Kant's direct supervisors, William Foster, a former research professor of medicine, and Monica Kraft, a former division chief in 바카라사이트 pulmonary division ¨C were aware of warning signs, such as unusually quick work and suspicions among non-Duke scientists, but took no action.

University officials said that 바카라사이트y discovered 바카라사이트 possible research misconduct in 2013 only after learning of 바카라사이트 embezzlement.

Professor Foster studied how pollutants affect 바카라사이트 body¡¯s airways, and Ms Potts-Kant's work helped her team win $200 million in grants from 바카라사이트 National Institutes of Health and 바카라사이트 Environmental Protection Agency, 바카라사이트 suit alleged.

Ms Potts-Kant also published 38 journal articles that were cited several hundred o바카라사이트r articles. At least 17 of her articles have been?.

The case was tentatively settled in November but officially announced only on 25 March. In addition to beginning an internal investigation of 바카라사이트 case, Duke promised, as part of its post-settlement remedies, to create scientific accountability plans, to establish research conduct training, and to improve clinical research oversight.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com