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Two papers were retracted from Nature and Science on April 11, one from each journal, reports Retraction Watch. The University of Bristol investigated the first author Abderrahmane Kaidi for research misconduct and the University of Cambridge launched a separate investigation, both finding malfeasance.
The Nature paper titled “KAT5 tyrosine phosphorylation couples chromatin sensing to ATM signalling” was published in 2013. The Science paper titled “Human SIRT6 promotes DNA end resection through CtIP deacetylation” appeared in 2010.
The last author on both papers was Steve Jackson of the University of Cambridge. The university and Jackson first notified Science of the investigation into research misconduct in August 2018. Science’s retraction notice says, “After an investigation, the University of Cambridge has concluded that there was falsification of research data used in the Report.” Nature’s retraction notice states...
Bristol Live reported Kaidi’s resignation from Bristol in September 2018. “Dr Kaidi admitted to having fabricated research data to convince a research collaborator in another institution that certain experiments had taken place, when this was not the case,” a University of Bristol representative told Bristol Live then. “At the time of his resignation, Dr Kaidi was under investigation in respect of allegations relating to his behaviour in the laboratory towards other members of his research group,” said the representative.
Update: The Scientist was sent this statement by a spokesperson of the University of Cambridge:
“The University has completed an investigation under its Misconduct in Research policy into allegations made against Dr Abderrahmane Kaidi, a postdoctoral fellow at the University between 2007 and 2013. The investigation has upheld the allegations against Dr Kaidi, who has admitted misrepresentation and fabrication of data in two papers. Dr Kaidi has taken full and sole responsibility for these actions. The University’s investigation did not identify any concerns regarding any of Dr Kaidi’s co-authors on these papers. The journals concerned have been informed of the outcome of the University investigation”.
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