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Biologist with five-year funding ban earns 7th and 8th retractions

A biologist in New Jersey has retracted two more papers, bringing his total to eight retractions, following a finding by the U.S. Office of Research Integrity (ORI). The analysis of the work of John Pastorino, previously a cell biologist at Rowan University, in Glassboro, concluded that he had doctored more than 40 images, resulting in a five-year … Continue reading Biologist with five-year funding ban earns 7th and 8th retractions

Why did a chemistry journal fix fraud with a correction instead of a retraction?

Are some cases of research fraud fixable with a correction notice? A chemistry journal thought so in 2014, when it issued a correction notice for a 2012 paper after the first author admitted to manipulating an image. After an investigation, the publisher agreed the manipulation was a “clear breach” of its ethical guidelines, but decided not to … Continue reading Why did a chemistry journal fix fraud with a correction instead of a retraction?

Researcher denied PhD after “recklessly” committing misconduct

A doctoral student at the University of Houston in Texas will not receive his PhD, following an institutional investigation into his work. Mousa Abkhezr, the researcher in question, is no longer enrolled at the University of Houston, his former supervisor told us. In June, the probe into papers co-authored by Abkhezr resulted in the retraction … Continue reading Researcher denied PhD after “recklessly” committing misconduct

A researcher sued critics of his work. Now he has 13 retractions.

A cancer researcher who sued PubPeer commenters for criticizing his work has lost six more papers, bringing his total to 13 retractions.  Four of the new retraction notices issued by the journal Cancer cite an investigation at Wayne State University in Michigan into the work of Fazlul Sarkar and some of his colleagues. All the new notices, including the other two … Continue reading A researcher sued critics of his work. Now he has 13 retractions.

Researcher whose PhD was revoked is no longer at Harvard lab

A research fellow at Harvard Medical School whose PhD was revoked last month is no longer working in his former lab, Retraction Watch has learned.  An archived version of the lab site for Alfred Goldberg from December, 2015, lists Sudarsanareddy Lokireddy as a postdoctoral fellow; however, Goldberg’s current lab site doesn’t include Lokireddy as a lab member. We contacted Goldberg’s lab, and he was unavailable … Continue reading Researcher whose PhD was revoked is no longer at Harvard lab

Scientist with three retractions settles lawsuit against George Washington University

A researcher whose work has been subject to three retractions and two expressions of concern has settled a lawsuit he filed against his university for breach of contract and emotional distress. Rakesh Kumar had sued George Washington University for $8 million, claiming that his employer had relieved him of department chair duties without following the … Continue reading Scientist with three retractions settles lawsuit against George Washington University

Journal retracts paper for using figures without permission

A plastic surgery journal has retracted a paper after a researcher claimed it contained three figures without his permission. According to Aesthetic Surgery Journal’s retraction notice (which is paywalled, tsk tsk), the figures were reproduced from a paper published in a Chinese journal without the original authors’ knowledge or permission:

Weekend reads: More Impact Factor scrutiny; $10 million fine for overbilling; protected Canadian fraudsters

The week at Retraction Watch featured the loss of a Harvard researcher’s PhD for misconduct, and the harrowing tale of a whistleblower. Here’s what was happening elsewhere:

1st retraction for cancer researcher who doctored data in 11 studies

A cancer journal has retracted a paper co-authored by a researcher who falsified or fabricated data in 11 studies, according to an investigation by the Office of Research Integrity (ORI). In December 2015, an ORI probe into the work of Girija Dasmahapatra concluded that he had …duplicated, reused, and/or relabeled Western blot panels and mouse … Continue reading 1st retraction for cancer researcher who doctored data in 11 studies

Harvard researcher’s PhD revoked, former group earns three more retractions

A research fellow at Harvard has lost his PhD from a university in Singapore after being found guilty of falsifying data, and his former group leader’s contract has been terminated by his institution. But that’s not the whole story. This tangled mess involves not only the Harvard researcher, Sudarsanareddy Lokireddy, and his former boss, Ravi Kambadur at … Continue reading Harvard researcher’s PhD revoked, former group earns three more retractions