Dana-Farber researchers moving to retract paper in investigation

Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, one of the nation’s leading cancer research and treatment centers, are “moving to” retract one paper and correct others amid an expanding investigation of data manipulation, officials told STAT. The investigation includes scores of papers authored by four top scientists and institute leaders, including CEO Laurie Glimcher and COO William Hahn.

Dana-Farber officials disclosed that the review process began for some studies more than a year ago. The institute’s research integrity officer, Barrett Rollins, told STAT this week that while Dana-Farber has not completed reviewing all of the claims, several are serious enough that researchers are talking with journals about retracting one paper and correcting others. None of the allegations reviewed thus far was dismissed for lack of scientific merit.

“They were all credible,” Rollins said. “So far.”