Okayama University has published the results of a survey in which a paper on cancer published by its professor four years ago found that there were more than 4 cases of fabrication of experimental data. The university will consider disciplinary action promptly.
This was clarified by Okayama University, together with the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, at a press conference.
The fabrication of experimental data was certified by Professor Atsunori Kamiya of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Okayama University, when he was a member of the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, and in a paper published four years ago, he confirmed that the function of the autonomic nervous system affects the progression of cancer through experiments on mice.
When we investigated this paper in response to anonymous accusations pointing out fraud at the university and the center, it was found that the number of mice purchased by Professor Kamiya was significantly less than the number of mice required for the experiment described in the paper, and the university and others said that it was impossible to conduct the experiment.
Okayama University and others have stated that more than 4 data in the paper constitute research fraud of fabrication or falsification, and that "it consists of fictitious experimental results over a fairly wide range and is highly malicious," and recommends that Professor Kamiya retract the paper and will consider disciplinary action in the future.
Professor Kamiya explains that "the mouse was reused" and does not admit fraud.
President Hiroshi Makino of Okayama University commented, "This is a misconduct as a faculty member of Okayama University, and it is completely unacceptable, and we will take it seriously and instill efforts to prevent recurrence throughout the organization."
Kinya Otsu, president of the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, said, "I sincerely apologize to the public and everyone involved in medical research, and as a national research center, I would like to steadily implement measures to prevent recurrence, bearing in mind that we are in a position to lead other research institutions in preventing fraud."