Panel finds ex-Pitt fellow falsified data

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- A postdoctoral fellow knowingly falsified stem cell data while trying to clone monkey embryos while at the University of Pittsburgh, a U.S. federal panel said.

As a result, South Korean researcher John Hyuk Park won't be allowed to apply for U.S.-funded research grants or act in an advisory capacity to the Public Health Service for three years, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said Thursday. The ruling by the Office of Research Integrity was effective as of Nov. 29.

The federal oversight panel said that in a paper being prepared on cloning monkey embryos to generate stem cells, Park "intentionally and knowingly" falsified two figures by presenting them as genuine. He attempted to mask what he did by trying to alter records and destroy evidence.

The panel said its finding was based partly on concerns stem cell expert Gerald Schatten and others brought to Pitt's research integrity officer regarding Park.

The research Park's actions compromised is being re-conducted.

Park also worked with Hwang Woo-Suk, who left Seoul National University in disgrace after experiments purportedly generating stem cells from cloned human embryos were discredited.