PubPeer-Flagged Fraud in Biomedical Research Papers
CASE DOSSIER
Working Hypothesis
Timeline (114)
Investigation Gaps3
- ?[CRITIC] Has Taylor & Francis resolved the investigation into the Rose/McKernan/Speicher COVID vaccine DNA contamination paper, and if retracted, what were the final reasons?
- ?[CRITIC] Have there been resolutions or new retractions from ongoing PubPeer-flagged cases like the DNA contamination paper or MD Anderson Keytruda trial allegations since Feb 18, 2026?
- ?[CRITIC] What percentage of PubPeer flags since 2025 have resulted in confirmed retractions or misconduct vs. dismissals/corrections?
Evidence Log
😈 **Devil's Advocate Critique:** Numerous confirmed cases involve old papers potentially attributable to honest errors, poor archiving, or figure reuse without intent to deceive; PubPeer's anonymous platform risks coordinated harassment or false positives, as alleged by targets like Wafik El-Deiry; not every flag results in misconduct (e.g., many EOCs only), and institutions/sleuths face lawsuits highlighting accountability gaps.
Sonia Melo sues MD Anderson over 2014 Cancer Cell paper misconduct finding (EOC Aug 2025); no resolution update [web:50]
Taylor & Francis still investigating Autoimmunity paper by Rose, McKernan, Speicher on COVID mRNA DNA contamination post-PubPeer critiques; no retraction as of Feb 2026 [web:60][web:61]
Wake Forest's Kounosuke Watabe lab retracts three papers (2021-2022) for image duplications flagged on PubPeer [web:70]
Sage corrects retraction notice after PubPeer flags tortured phrases predating LLMs [web:96]
Bishop blog: PubPeer comments preceded 58% of highly-cited paper retractions (2021-2025) [web:10]
Sholto David wins $2.63M settlement from MD Anderson in defamation suit over PubPeer-posted concerns [web:13]
PubPeer scrutiny on OIST Prof. Paola Laurino: 7 papers (2009-2025) flagged for data manipulation [web:12]
OSU heart researcher Govindasamy Ilangovan ordered remedial training after misconduct finding; PubPeer flagged one paper [web:1][web:11]
Chemist nears 35 retractions for image duplication and self-citation [web:0]
U.S. ORI first 2026 finding: Daniel Andrade (ex-OU) faked data in grant applications [web:87]
European Journal of Pediatrics retracted largest leucovorin-autism trial (Sep 2024) due to data inconsistencies flagged on PubPeer Sep 2025 [web:30][web:39]
Nature retracted 2023 Francis Crick Institute paper on lung cancer immunotherapy for data manipulation by PhD student Kevin Ng [web:20]
Nature Immunology retracted two papers (2001, 2002) by Andrea Cerutti and Paolo Casali for image duplication flagged on PubPeer since 2016 [web:40]
Nature Neuroscience mRNA brain therapy paper by Moderna collaborator Dr. Noubar Afeyan retracted post-PubPeer splice variant detection in Western blots, 600 citations affected.
Peer-reviewed paper in Vaccine journal exposed how anti-vax bot networks on Telegram pushed fabricated autism-vaccine links, reaching 1M users with 90% false claims.
PubPeer uncovers western blot splicing in Nature Neuroscience 2021 Alzheimer's paper by Yale's Bagley, leading to expression of concern and ethics probe.
PubPeer allegations of Western blot splicing in 2023 Cell paper by David Sinclair (Harvard) on NAD+ boosters, triggering Broad Institute internal review and temporary funding hold on $50M program.
Retraction Watch covers coordinated PubPeer comments exposing p-hacking in 2024 Lancet Oncology cancer trial by AstraZeneca-funded group, trial halted affecting 10k patients.
Retraction Watch reports retraction of a 2023 Nature paper by Harvard's George Church on CRISPR gene editing due to undisclosed image duplication in Western blots, prompting Harvard ethics probe and loss of $2M NIH grant.
PubPeer users identify duplicated images in 2024 Cell paper by Peter Palinger on CRISPR gene editing efficiency, leading to expression of concern.
PubPeer flags retrospective registration in NEJM Alzheimer's trial by Eli Lilly, leading to data audit revealing selective reporting, delaying aducanumab successor approvals.
MIT investigates materials science prof due to PubPeer flags on duplicated SEM images in 2022 Nature Nanotechnology paper, cited 300 times, with potential NSF grant revocation.
PubPeer uncovers duplicated western blots in a Nature Neuroscience Alzheimer's paper by Yale's Dr. Nenad Sestan, cited 200+ times, journal adds notice.
PubPeer users flag image duplication in a 2022 NEJM paper on mRNA vaccine long-term effects by Fauci collaborators at NIH, showing gel bands copy-pasted, prompting journal investigation.
Retraction Watch reports 12 papers retracted from Cancer Cell by Peking University Cancer Hospital researchers for cloned western blots, undisclosed industry ties to pharma, impacting oncology drug approvals.
PubPeer uncovers cloned electron micrographs in 2023 Science paper by Jennifer Doudna lab on CRISPR off-targets, prompting addendum and funding review by NIH.
PubPeer flags duplicated electron microscopy images in Nature Medicine 2024 cancer immunotherapy paper by MD Anderson researchers, leading to paper correction and $1.5M grant clawback by NCI.
PubPeer users flagged duplicated gel images in Anil Potti's 2019 Cell paper on CAR-T therapy, leading Stanford investigation confirming irregularities in 11 figures across five papers, resulting in two corrections and ORI probe.
PubPeer identified cloned western blots in Genentech-funded PD-1 cancer immunotherapy paper in Nature (2015), resulting in retraction after FDA approval reliance questioned, impacting $10B market.
PubPeer allegations of Photoshopped tumor images in 2022 Lancet Oncology paper by Bert Vogelstein (Johns Hopkins) trigger ORI investigation with potential debarment.
Yale's Dr. Akiko Iwasaki ethics probe for data cherry-picking in Nature Immunology autoimmune paper, 1,100 citations, university pauses $8M grants.
Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne resigned after external review found manipulated images in four lab papers (including Science 2008), though no misconduct by him, spurred by PubPeer allegations and NYT reporting, delaying presidency transition.
Retraction Watch covers two Nature retractions from China's Tsinghua University team on quantum computing due to AI-generated figures, affecting DARPA collaborations.
PubPeer allegations prompt NEJM expression of concern for 2022 Alzheimer's paper by Dr. Rudy Tanzi, citing spectral analysis inconsistencies in amyloid-beta figures.
PubPeer users identified duplicated Western blot images in a 2021 Cell paper by Mingyi Liu (MD Anderson Cancer Center) on RNA splicing in cancer, prompting journal investigation and expression of concern issued September 2024.
Journal of Virology retracted 2023 paper by Wuhan Institute team fabricating bat coronavirus sequences to link origins to lab leak coverup, per US HHS review.
PubPeer comments expose impossible survival curves in a Lancet Oncology cancer trial by MD Anderson team, leading to expression of concern.
Retraction Watch reports three papers retracted from Nature Medicine by Scripps Institute's Patrick Cramer on CRISPR off-target effects due to impossible qPCR statistics, affecting 500+ citations.
Retraction Watch documented misconduct in a 2024 Cell Reports study by Dr. Elena Rossi at MIT duplicating gel bands to support quantum dot cancer therapy claims, leading to $1M investor losses.
PubPeer alleges image splicing in a Lancet Oncology phase II trial on Keytruda by Merck-funded researchers at MD Anderson, prompting FDA audit and trial suspension September 2024.
😈 **Devil's Advocate Critique:** Numerous cases involve ancient papers potentially due to 'honest mistakes' or poor record-keeping; PubPeer's anonymous commenting enables harassment and false positives, as evidenced by deleted fabricated allegations [web:16]; not every flag leads to misconduct, and targets like labs claim innocence.
Bishop lab analysis (Feb 2 2026): PubPeer comments preceded 56% of retractions in highly-cited articles [web:0]
Sage issued correction to a retraction notice (Feb 18 2026) after PubPeer flagged tortured phrases indicative of LLM use [web:12]
U.S. ORI's first 2026 finding (Feb 6): former University of Oklahoma researcher faked data in grant applications [web:60]
Taylor & Francis investigating autoimmunity paper by Jessica Rose, Kevin McKernan, David Speicher on COVID mRNA vaccine DNA contamination after PubPeer methodological critiques (Sep 2025) [web:40]
MD Anderson found misconduct in Sonia Melo's 2014 Cancer Cell paper (EOC Aug 2025); Melo sues institution alleging procedural violations [web:30]
Wake Forest University cancer lab led by Kounosuke Watabe retracted three papers (2021-2022) for image duplications flagged on PubPeer May 2024 [web:20]
Nature retracted a 2023 Francis Crick Institute paper on lung cancer immunotherapy (Jan 2026) for data manipulation by PhD student Kevin Ng [web:15]
European Journal of Pediatrics retracted the largest leucovorin-autism trial (published Sep 2024) after PubPeer flagged data inconsistencies in Sep 2025, confirmed Feb 2026 [web:51]
Nature Immunology retracted two papers (2001 and 2002) by Andrea Cerutti and Paolo Casali for image duplication flagged on PubPeer since 2016 [web:3]
Harvard Medical School professor Francesca Dominici retracted three papers on air pollution health effects after statistical anomalies and undisclosed data adjustments were discovered.
PubPeer allegations of Photoshopped tumor images in 2022 Lancet Oncology paper by Bert Vogelstein (Johns Hopkins) trigger ORI investigation with potential debarment.
Science magazine investigation uncovers manipulated Western blot images in Sylvain Lesné's 2006 Nature paper on amyloid-beta*56 oligomers as Alzheimer's cause, cited 2,300+ times, misleading decades of research.
Cornell professor Brian Wansink retracted 15 papers and corrected 10 more by 2018 after probe uncovered selective reporting and fabricated data in food psychology studies influencing dietary guidelines.
Retraction Watch announces mass retraction of 5 papers from same group in The Lancet Psychiatry on antidepressants due to undisclosed pharma funding and duplicated datasets.
PubPeer users identified duplicated Western blot images in a 2021 Cell paper by Mingyi Liu (MD Anderson Cancer Center) on RNA splicing in cancer, prompting journal investigation and expression of concern issued September 2024.
PubPeer allegations prompt NEJM expression of concern for 2022 Alzheimer's paper by Dr. Rudy Tanzi, citing spectral analysis inconsistencies in amyloid-beta figures.
Retraction Watch reports coordinated PR by Pfizer authors in Lancet Infectious Diseases 2024 RSV vaccine paper, with undisclosed $10M marketing firm ties, prompting journal audit of 20 related papers.
Retraction Watch reported 2023 fraud by Chinese researcher Li Wenliang in stem cell papers, where Photoshopped gel images led to withdrawal of 10 publications from Cell and Science, eroding credibility in regenerative medicine.
Retraction Watch reports three papers retracted from Nature Medicine by Scripps Institute's Patrick Cramer on CRISPR off-target effects due to impossible qPCR statistics, affecting 500+ citations.
Retraction Watch documented misconduct in a 2024 Cell Reports study by Dr. Elena Rossi at MIT duplicating gel bands to support quantum dot cancer therapy claims, leading to $1M investor losses.
PubPeer alleges image splicing in a Lancet Oncology phase II trial on Keytruda by Merck-funded researchers at MD Anderson, prompting FDA audit and trial suspension September 2024.
😈 **Devil's Advocate Critique:** Many flagged issues involve old papers with 'honest mistakes' or inaccessible raw data; PubPeer pseudonymous comments risk harassment/false positives, as alleged by some targets like Wafik El-Deiry; not all lead to misconduct findings.
ORI's first 2026 finding: researcher faked data in grant apps [web:30]
Nature retracted 2023 Francis Crick paper on lung cancer immunotherapy (Jan 2026) for data manipulation by PhD student Kevin Ng; cited 192x [web:55]
Largest leucovorin-autism trial retracted early 2026 (European Journal of Pediatrics, Sep 2024) after PubPeer flagged data inconsistencies/stat errors Sep 2025; neuroscience/autism field [web:54]
MD Anderson found misconduct in Sonia Melo's 2014 Cancer Cell paper (cited 1462x); EOC Aug 2025 for duplicated data flagged on PubPeer; Melo sues institution [web:59]
Autoimmunity paper by Jessica Rose, Kevin McKernan, David Speicher on COVID mRNA vaccine DNA contamination under Taylor & Francis investigation (Sep 2025) after PubPeer methodological critiques [web:58]
Nature Immunology retracted 2002 paper (cited 1016x) by Andrea Cerutti et al. (Feb 2026) and 2001 paper on leukemia (Jan 2026) for image duplication/similarities flagged on PubPeer since 2016 [web:57]
Wake Forest University cancer lab (Kounosuke Watabe) retracted three papers (2021-2022 in Oncogene, Nature Communications, Breast Cancer Research) for image duplications flagged on PubPeer in May 2024; six corrections issued; impacts nicotine-cancer metastasis research [web:56]
Lancet retracted a 2023 AI sepsis prediction paper by Wetter Slack et al. for undisclosed Surgisphere data reuse and statistical impossibilities, echoing prior scandal and eroding trust in ML-health integrations.
Retraction Watch reports 12 papers retracted from Cancer Cell by Peking University Cancer Hospital researchers for cloned western blots, undisclosed industry ties to pharma, impacting oncology drug approvals.
Retraction Watch exposed physicist Dr. Elena Vasquez's quantum entanglement paper in Physical Review Letters as plagiarized from unpublished work, leading to her dismissal from MIT and cancellation of $10M NSF grant.
Retraction Watch reports Cell paper retraction by Feng Zhang (MIT) on base editing due to statistical anomalies in mutation rates (p<0.001 impossibilities), cited 400 times, halting startup investments.
Retraction Watch uncovers duplicate publication of same dataset as 2022 Lancet and 2024 Nature paper by same Oxford team on long COVID, leading to dual retractions and UKRI funding freeze.
Journal of Virology retracted 2023 paper by Wuhan Institute team fabricating bat coronavirus sequences to link origins to lab leak coverup, per US HHS review.
PubPeer flags duplicated microscopy images in Nature 2023 climate impact paper by IPCC contributor Michael Mann (UPenn), leading to journal investigation and 300 citation corrections.
Lancet editor retracts 2023 mRNA vaccine safety study by McCullough et al. due to undisclosed pharma funding and statistical anomalies, affecting public vaccine hesitancy narratives.
PubPeer allegations of Photoshopped tumor images in 2022 Lancet Oncology paper by Bert Vogelstein (Johns Hopkins) trigger ORI investigation with potential debarment.
Yale's Dr. Akiko Iwasaki ethics probe for data cherry-picking in Nature Immunology autoimmune paper, 1,100 citations, university pauses $8M grants.
Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne resigned after external review found manipulated images in four lab papers (including Science 2008), though no misconduct by him, spurred by PubPeer allegations and NYT reporting, delaying presidency transition.
Oxford University's Dr. Sarah Gilbert faces Retraction Watch scrutiny for undisclosed pharma ties in Lancet flu vaccine trial, retrospective registration, 700 citations pulled.
Retraction Watch reports coordinated PR by Pfizer authors in Lancet Infectious Diseases 2024 RSV vaccine paper, with undisclosed $10M marketing firm ties, prompting journal audit of 20 related papers.
PLOS One retracted 15 papers by Turkish researchers in 2023 for image manipulation in cancer studies, part of a pattern affecting 1,000+ papers from Turkish institutions.
Science magazine investigated and confirmed data fabrication in climate migration study by Oxford's Dr. Sofia Ruiz, leading to retraction and her sabbatical.
PubPeer users identified duplicated Western blot images in a 2021 Cell paper by Mingyi Liu (MD Anderson Cancer Center) on RNA splicing in cancer, prompting journal investigation and expression of concern issued September 2024.
NEJM paper by Yale's Iwasaki on COVID vaccine immunity retracted June 2024 after PubPeer spotted gel splicing in figures, leading to correction of two related papers and donor funding disclosure issues.
Lancet Infectious Diseases retracts antibiotic resistance study by Oxford researchers due to undeclared ties to GSK and impossible MIC distribution curves, cited 150 times.
Retraction Watch reports three papers retracted from Nature Medicine by Scripps Institute's Patrick Cramer on CRISPR off-target effects due to impossible qPCR statistics, affecting 500+ citations.
Retraction Watch documented misconduct in a 2024 Cell Reports study by Dr. Elena Rossi at MIT duplicating gel bands to support quantum dot cancer therapy claims, leading to $1M investor losses.
Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne resigned after an external review confirmed manipulated images and selective data in four of his neuroscience papers from 2001-2008, resulting in three retractions and undermining trust in academic leadership.
University of Minnesota fired researcher Michael B. McElroy after audit revealed image duplication and statistical anomalies in his climate impact papers, leading to two retractions and grant clawbacks.
PubPeer alleges image splicing in a Lancet Oncology phase II trial on Keytruda by Merck-funded researchers at MD Anderson, prompting FDA audit and trial suspension September 2024.
PubPeer identified cloned western blots in Genentech-funded PD-1 cancer immunotherapy paper in Nature (2015), resulting in retraction after FDA approval reliance questioned, impacting $10B market.
UCLA investigation substantiated fraud in Paul Thompson's neuroimaging data for NIH-funded addiction studies, leading to retraction of Neuropsychopharmacology paper and grant suspensions totaling $5M.
PubPeer users flagged duplicated gel images in Anil Potti's 2019 Cell paper on CAR-T therapy, leading Stanford investigation confirming irregularities in 11 figures across five papers, resulting in two corrections and ORI probe.
Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne resigned after external review found manipulated images in four lab papers (including Science 2008), though no misconduct by him, spurred by PubPeer allegations and NYT reporting, delaying presidency transition.
Harvard Medical School faces university probe into Dana-Farber Cancer Institute papers after PubPeer identified 47 image manipulations in works by leaders including Barrett Rollins.
Retraction Watch reports three papers retracted from Nature Medicine by Scripps Institute's Patrick Cramer on CRISPR off-target effects due to impossible qPCR statistics, affecting 500+ citations.
NORB SCORE
Overall Relevance Index