Stanford president resigned over manipulated images — 5 papers retracted or corrected

Marc Tessier-Lavigne was one of the most respected neuroscientists of his generation, a pioneer in axon guidance and brain development who had led research at Genentech, Rockefeller University, and ultimately Stanford University, where he served as president from 2016. Under his leadership, Stanford raised billions, expanded its faculty, and rose in global rankings. His scientific reputation was built on papers published in top journals including Nature, Science, and Cell.

In November 2022, microbiologist and image-integrity researcher Elisabeth Bik, together with The Stanford Daily, identified manipulated images in four papers co-authored by Tessier-Lavigne. The manipulations included duplicated bands in gel blots, rotated and reused image panels, and other irregularities that suggested data had been altered to produce desired results. Stanford's Board of Trustees launched an investigation, convening a panel of independent scientists to review the allegations.

The panel's report, released July 19, 2023, found that Tessier-Lavigne had not personally manipulated data nor knowingly approved manipulated images. But it found an 'unusual frequency of manipulation of research data' from multiple people in labs he had overseen, and concluded that he had 'failed to decisively and forthrightly correct mistakes in the scientific record.' He resigned as Stanford president the same day, effective August 31, 2023, and committed to retract or correct five papers — a 2009 Nature paper was retracted that December.