By CATHERINE CLABBY, Staff Writer
CHAPEL HILL -- Once again, research published in an elite journal has been retracted after a data review concluded that a former UNC-Chapel Hill scientist submitted fraudulent results.
The journal Science on Friday retracted a 1997 paper pinpointing molecular effects of Cockayne syndrome, a rare, fatal illness that produces aging-like symptoms in very young children.
Priscilla Cooper of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, lead author of that paper, said her review of experiments convinced her that former UNC-Chapel Hill professor Steven "Tony" Leadon contributed "rigged" results.
Using a highly sensitive test, Leadon claimed to capture precise types of genetic damage in cells done by some inherited illnesses. In Cooper's project, he reported finding damage from Cockayne syndrome caused by DNA's failure to repair itself.
But when Cooper looked at photographic records of the experiments, it was clear that unnecessary amounts of laboratory samples were used to record the damage, amounts that would distort measurements, she said Friday.
Leadon, who resigned from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2003, could not be reached on Friday. He did not endorse the decision to retract the Science paper, the journal said.
In 2003, Leadon agreed to retract his laboratory's findings crucial to a 1998 Science paper concerning damage from a genetic mutation linked to breast cancer. He also retracted findings published in two other scientific journals.
At that time Leadon said allegations against him were misunderstandings that had been blown out of proportion.
Science in 2003 said it was retracting the breast cancer paper because a UNC-Chapel Hill committee concluded Leadon had submitted "fabricated and falsified" results to the study.
Citing personnel rules, UNC-Chapel Hill continues to say very little about Leadon. "The case referenced in the Science retraction affirms that the scientific process works. Data are checked and rechecked so that the correct result will emerge," vice chancellor Tony Waldrop said in a prepared statement.
Leadon obtained $2.3 million in research grants between 1991 and 1999, UNC has said.
Staff writer Catherine Clabby can be reached at 956-2414 or cclabby@newsobserver.com
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