Bec

Stanford president resigns over manipulated research, will retract at least three papers. Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne's tenure will come to an end on August 31, as he steps down following the release of a report that revealed concerning findings about his research practices. The report, issued by a Stanford-sponsored investigation, pointed to "manipulation of research data" in five papers for which Tessier-Lavigne was the principal author. While he maintained his innocence regarding fraud or falsification of data, the investigation highlighted his failure to address mistakes in the scientific record at various times in the past. According to Jerry Yang, Chair of the Stanford Board of Trustees, Tessier-Lavigne's decision to resign was influenced by the report's impact on his ability to lead the university effectively. The investigation, which spanned eight months, revealed a culture in Tessier-Lavigne's labs where positive results were rewarded, while those who struggled to produce favorable data were marginalized. Despite no direct evidence of Tessier-Lavigne's manipulation of data, the report noted his failure to provide adequate explanations for not correcting scientific records when presented with opportunities to do so. Retracting papers is a rare occurrence, especially for a scientist of Tessier-Lavigne's stature, as it signifies unreliable findings. The investigation identified "unusual frequency of manipulation of research data and/or substandard scientific practices" in papers authored by Tessier-Lavigne. As he steps down, the former Dean of Humanities, Richard Saller, will serve as interim president. Tessier-Lavigne is expected to retract or issue corrections to the papers in question, including a widely publicized study that challenged the understanding of Alzheimer's disease. The investigation was conducted by a special committee of the Stanford Board of Trustees, led by Mark Filip, a former deputy attorney general. Notably, several high-profile scientists, including Nobel laureate Randy Schekman and former Harvard provost Steve Hyman, participated in the investigation. The report confirmed many previously reported details and highlighted Tessier-Lavigne's failure to take decisive and forthright action in addressing concerns raised about his research over the years.