Columbia University’s prestigious cancer lab is facing scrutiny after having four studies retracted and one criticized for misconduct. The lab, led by Dr. Sam Yoon and Changhwan Yoon, came under fire after discrepancies in data were uncovered. Rogue scientist Sholto David reported the reuse of photos and other irregularities in the lab’s publications, prompting the removal of a stomach cancer study in 2022. Despite this, the lab continued to publish studies with questionable data.
Journals have since retracted three additional studies from the lab, citing image irregularities and misrepresentation. The lab’s suspect papers have been cited in approximately 90 other studies, highlighting the cascading effects of unreliable research. The lab’s misconduct underscores broader issues in the scientific community, with Dr. Ivan Oransky noting that many more papers should likely be retracted but go undetected.
The lab’s scientists have received significant federal research funding, despite concerns about their work. Recent retractions reveal data manipulations, reused images, and questionable experimental results. Dr. Yoon and Changhwan Yoon have been implicated in the misconduct, with responsibility falling on senior researchers like Dr. Yoon.
The episode sheds light on the pressures facing academic scientists to produce research while maintaining integrity in their work. Major publishers like Elsevier have faced criticism for their handling of online article retractions, raising questions about transparency in the scientific publishing process. The investigations continue, but the impact of these retractions on the broader scientific community remains to be seen.
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