PIXABAY, WERNER22BRIGITTEA scientist working for Amgen faked data in a study on how grizzly bears avoid developing long-term metabolic problems, despite gaining weight and ceasing activity during hibernation. Upon learning of the misconduct, the authors, including several based at the University of Idaho and Washington State University (WSU), this week (September 1) retracted their 2014 Cell Metabolism study.
“We know data were actually manipulated, and that just cannot stand,” Amgen’s research chief Alexander Kamb told The Wall Street Journal.
The offending author has not been named. The Wall Street Journal pointed out that one of the authors, Kevin Corbit of Amgen, was fired for data manipulation. But Corbit said his dismissal was tied to a separate incident, and that he stands by the grizzly bear study findings, which showed insulin sensitivity reversed course during the year. In the fall, insulin signaling remained intact and bears gained weight. Then, during hibernation, bears became insulin resistant. By the spring, their insulin sensitivity returned to normal. “The results were so different from what we see in humans and rodents that we were all very skeptical at ...
