Following months of investigation into allegations of research misconduct, Stanford University’s president, Marc Tessier-Lavigne, announced his resignation on July 19. The resignation comes after a report was released on July 17 that uncovered research manipulation in several labs overseen by Tessier-Lavigne while publishing scientific articles. The report also concluded that he failed to correct mistakes, even after peer-reviewed criticisms were made.
The investigation, led by law firm Kirkland & Ellis, included a former federal judge, Mark Filip, and five panelists with expertise in science and medicine. They reviewed twelve articles and analyzed 50,000 documents. Their findings revealed that five articles, where Tessier-Lavigne was listed as the principal author, contained fraudulent data that required retraction or correction.
In a statement declaring his intention to resign, effective August 31, Tessier-Lavigne focused on the report’s exoneration of him personally manipulating data. He stated, “I am gratified that the panel concluded I did not engage in any fraud or falsification of scientific data.” He also emphasized that the panel did not find him guilty of research misconduct regarding the twelve papers examined or having knowledge of misconduct in his lab.
Although the panel found problematic data manipulation in multiple instances across various labs and institutions, they determined that Tessier-Lavigne was not reckless and did not falsify data. However, they did note serious flaws in the presentation of research data in the papers, with apparent manipulation by others in at least four of the five articles.
The report also highlighted the unusual frequency of data manipulation and substandard scientific practices by different individuals, at different times, and in labs at different institutions. This raised concerns about the integrity of research conducted within the scientific community.
Tessier-Lavigne maintained that he never knowingly submitted inaccurate information. He took responsibility for the work of his lab members, stating, “I have never submitted a scientific paper without firmly believing that the data were correct and accurately presented.” In response to the report’s recommendations, he promised to retract at least three papers and correct the others.
Recognizing the impact on the university’s reputation, Tessier-Lavigne made the decision to step down. He acknowledged that ongoing discussions about the report and his ability to lead the university into the new academic year could hamper his leadership. He stated, “Stanford is greater than any one of us. It needs a president whose leadership is not hampered by such discussions.”
The Board of Trustees accepted Tessier-Lavigne’s resignation and thanked him for his years of service as president and his work as a prominent neuroscientist. Jerry Yang, the board chair, stated, “In light of the report and its impact on his ability to lead Stanford, the board decided to accept President Tessier-Lavigne’s resignation and agrees with him that it is in the University’s best interests.”
The board appointed Richard Saller, a professor of European studies at Stanford, as the interim president starting September 1. They also plan to form a committee in the coming weeks to identify the university’s next president. The incident involving Tessier-Lavigne is unprecedented in the scientific community, especially with the leader of a top-ranked university at the center of the controversy.
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