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Credit: Haruko Obokata
The journal Nature has retracted the papers it published several months ago on stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP) cells.
In January, Nature published an article and a letter in which researchers claimed they could create STAP cells—ie, induce pluripotency in somatic cells by exposing them to a low-pH environment.
Not long after the papers were published, however, members of the scientific community began to question the validity of the research.
They voiced concerns about published images, possible plagiarism, and an inability to replicate the experiments described.
So the Japanese institute RIKEN, where most of the study’s investigators are employed, launched an investigation.
In April, RIKEN’s investigative committee concluded that lead study author Haruko Obokata, PhD, and some of her colleagues were guilty of misconduct and/or negligence.
Dr Obokata appealed the findings, saying the acts of misconduct were simply mistakes and that STAP cells do exist.
But the committee decided another investigation is not warranted, and RIKEN called for a retraction of the Nature papers.
Today, Nature published the retractions, which can be viewed here and here. An editorial on the subject is available here.
As for the future of STAP cells, RIKEN is currently attempting to recreate Dr Obokata’s experiments and determine if the cells do exist. The organization plans to release an interim report on this attempt in late July or early August.
Other researchers said they have tried and failed to replicate Dr Obokata’s experiments. One group detailed their failed attempt in F1000Research. 
Credit: Haruko Obokata
The journal Nature has retracted the papers it published several months ago on stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP) cells.
In January, Nature published an article and a letter in which researchers claimed they could create STAP cells—ie, induce pluripotency in somatic cells by exposing them to a low-pH environment.
Not long after the papers were published, however, members of the scientific community began to question the validity of the research.
They voiced concerns about published images, possible plagiarism, and an inability to replicate the experiments described.
So the Japanese institute RIKEN, where most of the study’s investigators are employed, launched an investigation.
In April, RIKEN’s investigative committee concluded that lead study author Haruko Obokata, PhD, and some of her colleagues were guilty of misconduct and/or negligence.
Dr Obokata appealed the findings, saying the acts of misconduct were simply mistakes and that STAP cells do exist.
But the committee decided another investigation is not warranted, and RIKEN called for a retraction of the Nature papers.
Today, Nature published the retractions, which can be viewed here and here. An editorial on the subject is available here.
As for the future of STAP cells, RIKEN is currently attempting to recreate Dr Obokata’s experiments and determine if the cells do exist. The organization plans to release an interim report on this attempt in late July or early August.
Other researchers said they have tried and failed to replicate Dr Obokata’s experiments. One group detailed their failed attempt in F1000Research.
Credit: Haruko Obokata
The journal Nature has retracted the papers it published several months ago on stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP) cells.
In January, Nature published an article and a letter in which researchers claimed they could create STAP cells—ie, induce pluripotency in somatic cells by exposing them to a low-pH environment.
Not long after the papers were published, however, members of the scientific community began to question the validity of the research.
They voiced concerns about published images, possible plagiarism, and an inability to replicate the experiments described.
So the Japanese institute RIKEN, where most of the study’s investigators are employed, launched an investigation.
In April, RIKEN’s investigative committee concluded that lead study author Haruko Obokata, PhD, and some of her colleagues were guilty of misconduct and/or negligence.
Dr Obokata appealed the findings, saying the acts of misconduct were simply mistakes and that STAP cells do exist.
But the committee decided another investigation is not warranted, and RIKEN called for a retraction of the Nature papers.
Today, Nature published the retractions, which can be viewed here and here. An editorial on the subject is available here.
As for the future of STAP cells, RIKEN is currently attempting to recreate Dr Obokata’s experiments and determine if the cells do exist. The organization plans to release an interim report on this attempt in late July or early August.
Other researchers said they have tried and failed to replicate Dr Obokata’s experiments. One group detailed their failed attempt in F1000Research.