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AIDS researcher pleads not guilty to faking data

Posted July 01, 2014 1:01 am

Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa - A former Iowa State University scientist has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he falsified his research for an AIDS vaccine to secure millions of dollars in federal funding.

Dong-Pyou Han appeared in federal court in Des Moines on Tuesday and entered his pleas of not guilty to four counts of making false statements. Each count carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Han was released on bond, and his trial was scheduled for Sept. 2. His attorney declined to comment afterward.

Prosecutors say before Han resigned last fall, he told university officials he had spiked samples of rabbit blood with human proteins to make it appear the vaccine was working.

The alleged misconduct was uncovered last year after Harvard University scientists discovered the spiked samples.

Former Iowa State University researcher Dong-Pyou Han, center, leaves the courthouse with his attorney Joe Herrold, left, Tuesday in Des Moines, Iowa. Han was making his initial court appearance on charges that he falsified data to make a proposed AIDS vaccine appear promising and win millions of dollars in federal grant money. Associated Press

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