A University of Minnesota neuroscientist, Sylvain Lesné, is resigning after a decades-long investigation into his research on Alzheimer’s disease revealed he had doctored images in several papers. The study, published in 2006, suggested a specific compound was responsible for the disease and sparked significant funding and further research.
However, an investigation by academic sleuths found evidence of image manipulation, including digital alterations and duplication. The Nature paper was formally retracted in 2024 due to “signs of excessive manipulation.” Lesné’s resignation comes after he was cleared of misconduct in a separate investigation but faced ongoing scrutiny over his other publications.
Lesné’s case highlights the consequences of scientific dishonesty and the importance of publication ethics. Dr. Elisabeth Bik, who uncovered image alterations in Lesné’s work, warns that such incidents are often just the tip of the iceberg. The University of Minnesota has since implemented new publication ethics rules to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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Source: https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/alzheimers-researcher-alleged-to-have-doctored-images-is-leaving-umn