A top cancer researcher at Harvard University has been accused of scientific fraud that influenced 37 studies. The researchers are also suspected of manipulating the data images using simple methods such as copy-and-paste and Adobe Photoshop.
The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, has retracted six scientific studies published by top researchers, including the hospital's CEO, and requested corrections in 31 others. There were reports that it was. report Written by Arstechnica.
Former Harvard University president Claudine Gay was humiliated with a giant book (Boston Globe/Getty)
Sholto David, a data detective at PubPeer, an online forum for researchers to discuss publications, and his colleagues reportedly raised the allegations on January 2nd, when David Posted a long list of possible data manipulations from DFCI researchers on grounds of fairness. blogfor better science.
In his blog post, David pointed out several data diagrams that appear to feature pixel-by-pixel overlap. The researchers are accused of manipulating images of the data, including what is known as a “western blot” used to look at proteins in complex mixtures.
The allegations are made by DFCI President and CEO Laurie Glimcher, Executive Vice President and COO William Hahn, Senior Vice President of Experimental Medicine Eileen Ghobrial, and Harvard Medical School Professor This is for Kenneth Anderson.
Additionally, all four researchers involved are now faculty members at Harvard Medical School.
DFCI Research Integrity Officer Barrett Rollins responded to the allegations by saying: tell of harvard crimson The school is “committed to a culture of accountability and integrity,” and that “all investigations into research integrity are fully considered.”
Rollins also noted that David had contacted DFCI regarding allegations of data manipulation involving 57 studies, and that the institute's internal investigation found that DFCI researchers were “not primarily responsible for potential data errors.” It added that 38 papers were found to be indebted to the government.
The institute has now contacted scientific publishers to retract six studies and correct 31 others, bringing the total number of studies affected to date to 37. Meanwhile, the remaining 38th study in question is still under review.
Of the remaining 19 studies in question, three were cleared and 16 were found to have potentially manipulated data collected in laboratories outside DFCI. Rollins said. harvard crimson Those studies are still under investigation.
Rollins also argued that the discovery of false data or manipulated images is not necessarily “evidence of an author's deceptive intent” and that the institute has not yet determined whether there was any scientific misconduct.
“That conclusion can only be drawn after a careful investigation of the facts that are essential to our response,” Rollins said. “In our experience, mistakes are often unintentional and do not rise to the level of misconduct.”
Notably, the data discrepancy comes at a time when Harvard University is under fire in the wake of its recently ousted president, Claudine Gay, who was found to be a serial plagiarist. This was detected at a time when the backlash was intensifying.
Meanwhile, the new co-chairs of the Ivy League's anti-Semitism task force have come under fire for referring to Israel as an “apartheid regime” in a letter less than a year ago.
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