Stanford University president announces resignation over concerns about his research

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Stanford University’s president, Marc Tessier-Lavigne, has announced his resignation following concerns raised about his research. While an independent review cleared him of research misconduct, it identified “serious flaws” in five scientific papers that he authored on topics such as brain development. In a statement addressed to students and staff, Tessier-Lavigne stated that he would step down from his position on August 31st.

The decision to resign comes after the university’s board of trustees initiated a review in response to allegations of fraud and unethical conduct relating to Tessier-Lavigne’s research and papers, some of which date back to 1999 and 2001.

As a neuroscientist, Tessier-Lavigne maintained that he never submitted a scientific paper without a strong belief in the accuracy and integrity of the presented data. However, he admitted that he should have been more diligent in seeking corrections and implementing stricter controls in his laboratories.

The review panel discovered instances of manipulated data in 12 papers they investigated, but they did not hold Tessier-Lavigne responsible for the misconduct. Nevertheless, they identified significant flaws in each of the five papers where he served as the principal author. Additionally, in at least four of these papers, there was evidence of data manipulation by other individuals.

Tessier-Lavigne acknowledged being aware of issues with four of the five papers but admitted that he had taken insufficient action to address them. He stated his intention to retract three of the papers and correct the remaining two.

It is important to note that these papers were published before Tessier-Lavigne assumed the role of Stanford president.

Initially, allegations regarding the research surfaced on PubPeer, an online platform for scientific community discussions on research papers. The integrity of reports published by Tessier-Lavigne’s laboratories was further questioned by The Stanford Daily, the university’s student-run newspaper, prompting investigations that led to retractions and corrections. Theo Baker, an investigations editor and former college freshman at the time, received recognition through a George Polk journalism award for their role in the corrective actions.

The panel’s report dismissed the most serious allegation against Tessier-Lavigne, concerning a 2009 paper published in the scientific journal Nature. The panel determined that no investigation had taken place and no fraud had been discovered. However, they did identify multiple issues with the paper, including a lack of rigor in its development and various errors and shortcomings in the research and presentation. The panel did not find evidence that Tessier-Lavigne was aware of the lack of rigor.

H. Holden Thorp, the editor-in-chief of the Science family of journals, emphasized that researchers are responsible for the activities taking place in their laboratories. Despite being cleared of research misconduct, Tessier-Lavigne recognized that ongoing debates about his leadership capabilities would continue, leading him to make the decision to step down. He will retain his position as a biology professor and continue his research in brain development and neurodegeneration.

Richard Saller, a classics professor, has been appointed as interim president by the board, commencing on September 1st, according to board chair Jerry Yang.

Yang acknowledged Tessier-Lavigne’s contributions, including the establishment of Stanford’s first new school in 70 years, the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. He also highlighted the strategic long-range plan unveiled by Tessier-Lavigne in 2019, which will guide the university’s future growth.

Tessier-Lavigne’s presidency at Stanford University lasted nearly seven years.

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More about research misconduct

• Stanford University
• Nature
• PubPeer
• The Stanford Daily
• George Polk Awards