Top NIH scientist accused of faking Alzheimer research


The following is an excerpt from Science.org.


A top official at the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Dr. Eliezer Masliah, is under scrutiny following allegations of research misconduct in his studies on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Masliah, a prominent neuroscientist, served as NIA’s Division of Neuroscience head with influence over a vast budget and critical research in the field.

Science investigation revealed that many of Masliah’s published papers—spanning from his time at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and NIA—contain possibly falsified images and data. These included reused Western blot images and altered brain tissue micrographs that were published years apart in different journals. A 300-page dossier compiled by forensic analysts highlighted suspicious images in 132 of his papers.

Despite these findings, Dr. Masliah has not provided an explanation or commented on the alleged data manipulation. Following the report, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) acknowledged research misconduct involving Masliah and stated that he no longer serves as NIA’s neuroscience division director. However, many crucial questions remain unaddressed, raising concerns about the integrity of his influential work in the scientific community.

The potential impact is enormous since Masliah’s research has shaped the direction of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s treatment strategies, including clinical trials for drugs like prasinezumab. Forensic analysts and scientists emphasize the importance of a thorough review to determine the full extent of the alleged misconduct.

Read the full article here.


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1 thought on “Top NIH scientist accused of faking Alzheimer research”

  1. Pick a very frail victim who will be a huge burden, whose family will not sue you and promise them a useless, harmful pill.

    Ka-Ching! Family gets to claim they did everything. But will not be sorry for any early demise nd brakes a raiding the family inheritance. Yes, drug companies are that cynical.

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