Compiled by: Bukinta
Hiroshi Asakura, Chief Researcher at the National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS) in Japan, is embroiled in a data fabrication scandal.
Recently, a research paper authored by Asakura in 2021 has been officially retracted by the Japanese government's official journal, Food Safety. An investigation report by NIHS revealed that Asakura had fabricated and manipulated some materials during ISO/IEC 17025 certification testing, and provided false explanations, causing a significant blow to the integrity of academic research.
In December 2022, NIHS received a complaint letter regarding data fabrication by Hiroshi Asakura. To investigate this matter, on January 5, 2023, NIHS established an investigative committee, followed by the formation of a hearing committee later that month.
Apart from conducting hearings, the committees requested all paper authors to provide original data and afforded them the opportunity to explain themselves. Subsequently, the committees reviewed the authors' conduct to determine any improprieties.
Retraction Page for Food Safety
An investigation has revealed significant discrepancies between the sample descriptions, test results, and actual research in the paper, leading the committee to suspect data manipulation and fabrication.
The study was based on research data from the Japan Food Safety Commission titled "Quantitative Risk Analysis of Helicobacter pylori Food Poisoning Commonly Occurring in Japan." In the commission's research, measurements were taken using a "washing solution" obtained from rinsing the surface of chicken meat, with results described as "bacterial count per chicken."
However, in Asakura's study, "25g of neck skin" cut from slaughtered poultry was used as the measurement sample, with the results described as "bacterial count per 25g of neck skin." Asakura explained that he calculated the bacterial count per 25g of neck skin based on the average bacterial count but forgot to mention the conversion method in the paper. However, the committee found not only the absence of a description of the conversion method in the paper but also noted the use of "bacterial count per 25g of neck skin" for measurement.
Asakura, a senior researcher with about 20 years of experience, claimed that he forgot to record the conversion method, which the committee found to be an unreasonable defense. Consequently, the committee determined Asakura's involvement in academic misconduct.
The research conducted by the Food Safety Commission was considered the original data for the paper. Therefore, the committee interviewed or surveyed all co-authors of the study to assess whether there were any irregularities in the Food Safety Commission's research. All respondents stated that there were no scientific inconsistencies in the Food Safety Commission's research.
Additionally, the committee decided to investigate other papers authored by Asakura. The results revealed inconsistencies between the data submitted by co-authors of two other papers and the data presented in the papers.
Following the retraction, neither Asakura nor the editors of the Food Safety journal have responded to requests for comments from the public.
In its investigation report, the NIHS pointed out that measures would be taken from compliance education to enhancing researchers' ethical awareness and promoting communication among researchers to prevent recurrence of such academic misconduct.
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