Source: Wikipedia

Source: Wikipedia

The University of Minnesota’s Stem Cell Institute is facing scrutiny for the second time in a year over allegations of falsified data in research reports. The New Scientist identified the suspect research in April, prompting the University to launch an investigation.

Last fall, an expert panel ruled that a former Ph.D. student in the institute, Morayma Reyes, falsified images in a published research report.

And this spring, the New Scientist identified more allegedly falsified research involving photographs by researcher Jizhen Lin.

In April, New Scientist told the university of our concerns about Lin’s work. The university took the decision to begin an inquiry in mid-July, but it has not clarified which papers will be covered. Lin declined to comment on the concerns about his work while the inquiry is under way.

The New Scientist inquiries have resulted in three papers affiliated with the Stem Cell Institute being corrected and one being retracted entirely.

In all cases, researchers appear to have used doctored photos as evidence in published reports.

The University of Minnesota’s Stem Cell Institute has also been the subject of controversy over an effort by anti-abortion activists to have the institute’s embryonic stem cell research shut down.