Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) has taken final action in the following case: Alec Mirchandani, Florida Atlantic University: Based on the report of the inquiry conducted by Florida Atlantic University (FAU), the Respondent's admission, and analysis conducted by ORI, ORI found that Mr. Alec Mirchandani, former post-baccalaureate research volunteer in the Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University (FAU), engaged in research misconduct in research supported by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant 1 R15 MH099590-01A1. ORI found that Respondent engaged in research misconduct by knowingly and intentionally: (1) Fabricating the results of the T-maze behavioral experiment for control mice, (2) falsifying the laboratory and vivarium entry logs in an effort to cover up his actions, and (3) reporting the fabricated and falsified data to his laboratory supervisors. Specifically, ORI
A formal finding of research misconduct under 42 CFR part 93 (HHS) or equivalent agency policy. The respondent was found to have engaged in fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism of research data. The federal grant funds involved are typically identified in the FR notice, along with the administrative actions (debarment, supervised research, manuscript correction or retraction requirements).