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generated from STAP cells
Credit: Haruko Obokata
The Japanese research institute RIKEN has released early results of its investigation into allegations of misconduct leveled against the creators of STAP cells (stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency cells).
RIKEN has confirmed 2 cases of “inappropriate data handling” but said the circumstances did not constitute misconduct.
The investigation is ongoing, with 4 issues—including charges of plagiarism and doctored figures—still to be resolved.
Research prompts questions, criticism
The investigation began shortly after a group of RIKEN scientists and colleagues from a few other institutions announced their creation of STAP cells.
The researchers said they could induce pluripotency in somatic cells by introducing the cells to a low-pH environment, and they reported this discovery in an article and a letter to Nature.
Not long after the papers were published, members of the scientific community began questioning the validity of the research, citing issues with images, possible plagiarism, and an inability to replicate the experiments described.
In light of these issues, one of the study authors recently called for the research to be retracted.
Teruhiko Wakayama, PhD, formerly of RIKEN but now a professor at the University of Yamanashi, said there are “too many uncertainties” surrounding the research at this point. After a retraction, the researchers could collect new data and images to ensure their accuracy and resubmit the research for publication.
On the other hand, fellow study author Charles Vacanti, MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, has said a retraction is unnecessary.
“I firmly believe that the questions and concerns raised about our STAP cell paper published in Nature do not affect our findings or conclusions,” Dr Vacanti said.
Investigation launched
In response to the questions and allegations, RIKEN formed a committee to investigate the possibility of misconduct.
The investigation is focusing on 4 of the researchers involved: Haruko Obokata, PhD; Yoshiki Sasai, MD, PhD; Hitoshi Niwa, MD, PhD; and Dr Wakayama.
The committee is also looking into 6 issues with the research, 2 of which have been resolved.
Resolved issues
(1) Critics have questioned the “unnatural appearance of colored cell parts shown by arrows in d2 and d3 images of Figure 1f” in the article.
RIKEN concluded that the process of preparing these images did not constitute fabrication within the context of research misconduct.
(2) Questions have been raised about a “strong resemblance between the rightmost panel in Figure 1b and the lower panel in Figure 2g, both showing a fluorescence image of mice placenta” in the letter.
There is no reference to the figures in the figure legends or the main body of text, and RIKEN does define this sort of discrepancy as fabrication. However, the researchers claimed they had intended to delete one of the figures prior to publication but forgot, and there is no evidence to contradict that explanation. So RIKEN concluded that no malice was intended, and this should not be considered misconduct.
Issues under investigation
(1) In Figure 1i of the article, lane 3 appears to have been inserted.
(2) A part of the article’s “Methods” section on karyotyping analysis appears to have been copied from another paper.
(3) Some of the description of karyotyping in the “Methods” section of the article is different from the procedure the researchers followed.
(4) In the article, the image of differentiated cells for Figures 2d and 2e and the image of chimera mouse immunostaining data are incorrect, and investigation revealed that these images closely resemble images Dr Obokata used in her doctoral dissertation.
Next steps
RIKEN said it will continue with the investigation and issue a full report upon its completion. The institute also aims to determine whether the STAP cell experiments can be reproduced.
“The reproducibility and credibility of the STAP phenomenon must be rigorously validated, not only by RIKEN scientists, but also by others,” said RIKEN President Ryoji Noyori, PhD.
“I have instructed our people to cooperate fully with researchers at outside institutions in their efforts to replicate the STAP cell results.”
Dr Noyori added that RIKEN is prepared to withdraw the Nature papers and take “strict disciplinary action” against the researchers involved if the investigation reveals deliberate misconduct. 
generated from STAP cells
Credit: Haruko Obokata
The Japanese research institute RIKEN has released early results of its investigation into allegations of misconduct leveled against the creators of STAP cells (stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency cells).
RIKEN has confirmed 2 cases of “inappropriate data handling” but said the circumstances did not constitute misconduct.
The investigation is ongoing, with 4 issues—including charges of plagiarism and doctored figures—still to be resolved.
Research prompts questions, criticism
The investigation began shortly after a group of RIKEN scientists and colleagues from a few other institutions announced their creation of STAP cells.
The researchers said they could induce pluripotency in somatic cells by introducing the cells to a low-pH environment, and they reported this discovery in an article and a letter to Nature.
Not long after the papers were published, members of the scientific community began questioning the validity of the research, citing issues with images, possible plagiarism, and an inability to replicate the experiments described.
In light of these issues, one of the study authors recently called for the research to be retracted.
Teruhiko Wakayama, PhD, formerly of RIKEN but now a professor at the University of Yamanashi, said there are “too many uncertainties” surrounding the research at this point. After a retraction, the researchers could collect new data and images to ensure their accuracy and resubmit the research for publication.
On the other hand, fellow study author Charles Vacanti, MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, has said a retraction is unnecessary.
“I firmly believe that the questions and concerns raised about our STAP cell paper published in Nature do not affect our findings or conclusions,” Dr Vacanti said.
Investigation launched
In response to the questions and allegations, RIKEN formed a committee to investigate the possibility of misconduct.
The investigation is focusing on 4 of the researchers involved: Haruko Obokata, PhD; Yoshiki Sasai, MD, PhD; Hitoshi Niwa, MD, PhD; and Dr Wakayama.
The committee is also looking into 6 issues with the research, 2 of which have been resolved.
Resolved issues
(1) Critics have questioned the “unnatural appearance of colored cell parts shown by arrows in d2 and d3 images of Figure 1f” in the article.
RIKEN concluded that the process of preparing these images did not constitute fabrication within the context of research misconduct.
(2) Questions have been raised about a “strong resemblance between the rightmost panel in Figure 1b and the lower panel in Figure 2g, both showing a fluorescence image of mice placenta” in the letter.
There is no reference to the figures in the figure legends or the main body of text, and RIKEN does define this sort of discrepancy as fabrication. However, the researchers claimed they had intended to delete one of the figures prior to publication but forgot, and there is no evidence to contradict that explanation. So RIKEN concluded that no malice was intended, and this should not be considered misconduct.
Issues under investigation
(1) In Figure 1i of the article, lane 3 appears to have been inserted.
(2) A part of the article’s “Methods” section on karyotyping analysis appears to have been copied from another paper.
(3) Some of the description of karyotyping in the “Methods” section of the article is different from the procedure the researchers followed.
(4) In the article, the image of differentiated cells for Figures 2d and 2e and the image of chimera mouse immunostaining data are incorrect, and investigation revealed that these images closely resemble images Dr Obokata used in her doctoral dissertation.
Next steps
RIKEN said it will continue with the investigation and issue a full report upon its completion. The institute also aims to determine whether the STAP cell experiments can be reproduced.
“The reproducibility and credibility of the STAP phenomenon must be rigorously validated, not only by RIKEN scientists, but also by others,” said RIKEN President Ryoji Noyori, PhD.
“I have instructed our people to cooperate fully with researchers at outside institutions in their efforts to replicate the STAP cell results.”
Dr Noyori added that RIKEN is prepared to withdraw the Nature papers and take “strict disciplinary action” against the researchers involved if the investigation reveals deliberate misconduct.
generated from STAP cells
Credit: Haruko Obokata
The Japanese research institute RIKEN has released early results of its investigation into allegations of misconduct leveled against the creators of STAP cells (stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency cells).
RIKEN has confirmed 2 cases of “inappropriate data handling” but said the circumstances did not constitute misconduct.
The investigation is ongoing, with 4 issues—including charges of plagiarism and doctored figures—still to be resolved.
Research prompts questions, criticism
The investigation began shortly after a group of RIKEN scientists and colleagues from a few other institutions announced their creation of STAP cells.
The researchers said they could induce pluripotency in somatic cells by introducing the cells to a low-pH environment, and they reported this discovery in an article and a letter to Nature.
Not long after the papers were published, members of the scientific community began questioning the validity of the research, citing issues with images, possible plagiarism, and an inability to replicate the experiments described.
In light of these issues, one of the study authors recently called for the research to be retracted.
Teruhiko Wakayama, PhD, formerly of RIKEN but now a professor at the University of Yamanashi, said there are “too many uncertainties” surrounding the research at this point. After a retraction, the researchers could collect new data and images to ensure their accuracy and resubmit the research for publication.
On the other hand, fellow study author Charles Vacanti, MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, has said a retraction is unnecessary.
“I firmly believe that the questions and concerns raised about our STAP cell paper published in Nature do not affect our findings or conclusions,” Dr Vacanti said.
Investigation launched
In response to the questions and allegations, RIKEN formed a committee to investigate the possibility of misconduct.
The investigation is focusing on 4 of the researchers involved: Haruko Obokata, PhD; Yoshiki Sasai, MD, PhD; Hitoshi Niwa, MD, PhD; and Dr Wakayama.
The committee is also looking into 6 issues with the research, 2 of which have been resolved.
Resolved issues
(1) Critics have questioned the “unnatural appearance of colored cell parts shown by arrows in d2 and d3 images of Figure 1f” in the article.
RIKEN concluded that the process of preparing these images did not constitute fabrication within the context of research misconduct.
(2) Questions have been raised about a “strong resemblance between the rightmost panel in Figure 1b and the lower panel in Figure 2g, both showing a fluorescence image of mice placenta” in the letter.
There is no reference to the figures in the figure legends or the main body of text, and RIKEN does define this sort of discrepancy as fabrication. However, the researchers claimed they had intended to delete one of the figures prior to publication but forgot, and there is no evidence to contradict that explanation. So RIKEN concluded that no malice was intended, and this should not be considered misconduct.
Issues under investigation
(1) In Figure 1i of the article, lane 3 appears to have been inserted.
(2) A part of the article’s “Methods” section on karyotyping analysis appears to have been copied from another paper.
(3) Some of the description of karyotyping in the “Methods” section of the article is different from the procedure the researchers followed.
(4) In the article, the image of differentiated cells for Figures 2d and 2e and the image of chimera mouse immunostaining data are incorrect, and investigation revealed that these images closely resemble images Dr Obokata used in her doctoral dissertation.
Next steps
RIKEN said it will continue with the investigation and issue a full report upon its completion. The institute also aims to determine whether the STAP cell experiments can be reproduced.
“The reproducibility and credibility of the STAP phenomenon must be rigorously validated, not only by RIKEN scientists, but also by others,” said RIKEN President Ryoji Noyori, PhD.
“I have instructed our people to cooperate fully with researchers at outside institutions in their efforts to replicate the STAP cell results.”
Dr Noyori added that RIKEN is prepared to withdraw the Nature papers and take “strict disciplinary action” against the researchers involved if the investigation reveals deliberate misconduct.