A series of irregularities in scientific research have come to light recently. They include manipulation of raw data, alteration and fabrications of graphics in scientific papers, and the embezzlement of research money. Not only researchers but also the institutes where they work should realize that the research irregularities are undermining public trust in scientists and take these incidents seriously. Scientists and research institutes need to strengthen their ethical standards. Otherwise there is the danger of regulations from outside being imposed on them, which would stifle autonomy in scientific research.
The reported irregularities include data fabrication pointed out regarding papers written by a former associate professor at Toho University’s medical school and a false announcement by a former researcher at the Tokyo University Hospital that he had put induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells to clinical application — both in 2012.
This year, suspected data manipulation in clinical research on Novartis Pharma K.K.'s high blood pressure drug Diovan made headlines nationwide. Of the five universities that conducted the research, teams at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine and Jikei University School of Medicine retracted their papers. Researchers under a former professor at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences at the University of Tokyo were found to have reused or altered graphics in more than 40 papers. A professor at the same university's Policy Alternatives Research Center was indicted on embezzlement charges.