C&EN: "Senior biochemist made up data in 13 studies"

Via C&EN, this news (article by Dalmeet Singh Chawla): 

Richard L. Eckert, a senior biochemist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, faked data in 13 published studies and two grant applications, according to a new report released by the US Office of Research Integrity (ORI).

The new misconduct findings, published earlier this week and first reported by Retraction Watch, reveal that Eckert “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly falsified and/or fabricated Western blot image data and microscopy image data.”

A spokesperson for the University of Maryland, Baltimore, says the institution’s Research Integrity Office conducted an investigation into Eckert’s work and sent the report to the ORI, which falls under the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“ORI accepted the University’s investigation report and findings,” the spokesperson tells C&EN in an email. “After its own additional investigation, HHS ORI issued a public notice with a detailed accounting of its findings that are aligned with the University’s investigation, reflecting the strong and appropriate response to this matter by the University.”

It always makes me wonder who was holding the smoking mouse in these photographic evidence/image manipulation cases. Was it the PI, or was it another worker? In the eyes of the law/the federal government, I suspect that it does not matter, but I am always curious nonetheless.