Stanford University President Resigns Amid Research Concerns

In a shocking development, Stanford University's President, Marc Tessier-Lavigne, has announced his resignation in response to concerns about his research integrity. The decision came after an independent review, launched by the board of trustees in December, investigated allegations of fraud and unethical conduct related to several scientific papers dating back to 1999 and 2001.

While the panel cleared Tessier-Lavigne of direct research misconduct, they found "serious flaws" in five scientific papers where he was the principal author, including subjects related to brain development. Multiple instances of manipulated data were discovered in the 12 papers investigated, raising questions about the presentation of research data. Despite not being directly responsible for the misconduct, the panel noted that the papers exhibited apparent manipulation of data by others.

In his statement to students and staff, Tessier-Lavigne admitted that he should have been more diligent in seeking corrections and maintaining tighter controls in his laboratories. He pledged to retract three of the papers and correct two others. However, the president clarified that these papers were published before he assumed the position of Stanford president.

The allegations against Tessier-Lavigne's work initially surfaced on PubPeer, a website where members of the scientific community can discuss research papers. The Stanford Daily, the university's student-run newspaper, further investigated the integrity of reports published by his laboratories, leading to special recognition for investigations editor Theo Baker.

Though the panel cleared him of the most serious allegations involving a 2009 paper published in Nature, they highlighted various errors and shortcomings in its development. H. Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the Science family of journals, emphasized that researchers are ultimately responsible for their laboratory's actions and culture.

Tessier-Lavigne stated that his decision to step down was driven by the anticipation of continued debate surrounding his ability to lead the university effectively. He will remain on faculty as a biology professor and continue his research on brain development and neurodegeneration.

The Stanford University board of trustees named Richard Saller, a classics professor, as the interim president, starting from September 1. Despite the challenges faced during his tenure, Tessier-Lavigne's contributions in creating the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and unveiling a long-range strategic plan were acknowledged by board chair Jerry Yang.

As the university looks toward a new chapter with an interim president, the departure of Tessier-Lavigne marks the end of his nearly seven-year tenure, leaving behind a legacy of accomplishments and controversies.