Plant biology (RNA silencing)
Olivier Voinnet: Figure manipulation inquiries at CNRS and ETH Zurich, 2015
ETH Zurich and CNRS (France)
Misconduct found CNRS found scientific misconduct in July 2015 and, as reported by Nature and Retraction Watch, suspended him for two years with effect on any return to the CNRS. ETH Zurich found a breach of duty of care but no misconduct under its rules and issued an admonition.1,2,3,4
Papers
| Paper | Action | Date | Reason stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papers with figure errors among 32 reviewed by ETH Zurich Multiple journals including The Plant Cell, 1998 to 2013 https://www.ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2015/07/investigation-result-voinnet.html1,2 | Retracted or corrected | 2015 onward | ETH said errors of varying severity were found in 20 of 32 publications examined and two had been retracted on the commission's recommendation. |
Investigations
- ETH Zurich investigation commission, 10 July 2015ETH said he "clearly breached his duty of care" and that this was not scientific misconduct as defined by its Rules of Procedure. He received an admonition from the ETH president.1
- CNRS, 10 July 2015CNRS said its commission of inquiry found deliberate figure manipulations that did not amount to fabrication but did amount to scientific misconduct. Nature and Retraction Watch reported a two-year suspension, which Nature said takes effect if and when he returns to the CNRS.3,2,4
Response
In the ETH report he said "I take complete responsibility for all errors" and that he very much regretted not exercising the necessary care during publication.1,2
Sources
- ETH Zurich, Conducted properly, published incorrectly (10 July 2015)
- Retraction Watch, High-profile biologist is suspended after two investigations found he "breached his duty of care", committed "misconduct" (10 July 2015)
- CNRS, Completion of the procedure against Olivier Voinnet (10 July 2015)
- Nature (D. Butler), Leading plant biologist found to have committed misconduct (10 July 2015)