Pulmonary medicine (mouse lung function studies)
Erin Potts-Kant: Duke pulmonary laboratory data, 2013 to 2019
Duke University School of Medicine (clinical research coordinator)
Misconduct found Permanently excluded from US federal contracting and PHS advisory roles under a 2019 agreement with ORI, which found she falsified and fabricated data in 39 published papers.1,3
Papers
| Paper | Action | Date | Reason stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 published papers with 117 figures and 2 tables affected Multiple journals, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-11-07/pdf/2019-24291.pdf1,3 | Correction or retraction | 7 November 2019 | ORI found she knowingly and intentionally falsified and fabricated data in 117 figures and 2 tables across 39 published papers. The Duke Chronicle reported 18 had been retracted, citing Retraction Watch. |
Investigations
- US Office of Research Integrity, based on a Duke investigation and her admission, 7 November 2019ORI found research misconduct by "knowingly and intentionally falsifying and fabricating research data", mainly flexiVent lung function and cytokine data, in 39 published papers, 3 manuscripts and 2 research records, based on Duke's investigation, her admission and ORI analysis. She agreed to exclude herself permanently from federal contracting and PHS advisory roles from 1 October 2019.1
- US Department of Justice (False Claims Act settlement with Duke University), 25 March 2019Duke agreed to pay 112.5 million dollars to settle a whistleblower suit, with 33,750,000 dollars to the whistleblower. The Justice Department said the claims settled are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. The release does not name her.4,2
Response
ORI said its findings rested partly on her admission. No public statement by her was reported by the Duke Chronicle or NPR.1,2,3
Sources
- Federal Register, US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Research Integrity, Findings of Research Misconduct (Erin N. Potts Kant) (7 November 2019)
- NPR, Duke Whistleblower Gets More Than $33 Million In Research Fraud Settlement (25 March 2019)
- The Chronicle (Duke), Government report says former Duke researcher faked data for 39 papers, now banned from funding (2019)
- US Department of Justice, Duke University Agrees to Pay U.S. $112.5 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Related to Scientific Research Misconduct (25 March 2019)