The president of Stanford University, Marc Tessier-Lavigne, announced on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, that he would be resigning. This decision comes after an independent review cleared him of research misconduct but found flaws in some of the papers he authored. Tessier-Lavigne stated in a message to students and staff that his resignation would be effective on Aug. 31.
Tessier-Lavigne mentioned that the board of trustees initiated a review in December following allegations of fraud and unethical conduct related to his research and papers. As a neuroscientist, he emphasized that he never submitted a scientific paper without firmly believing in the accuracy and correctness of the data. However, he acknowledged that he should have been more diligent in addressing issues with his work.
The review examined 12 papers, five of which Tessier-Lavigne was the principal author of. He acknowledged being aware of issues with four of the five papers but admitted to taking insufficient steps to address them. As a result, he plans to retract three papers and correct two. It’s important to note that these papers were published before Tessier-Lavigne assumed the role of Stanford president. Allegations of misconduct regarding these papers were initially raised on a website called PubPeer, where members of the scientific community discuss research papers.
The independent panel overseeing the review cleared Tessier-Lavigne of the most serious allegations involving a 2009 paper published in the scientific journal Nature. The panel found no evidence of fraud in that investigation and stated that the paper proposed a significant model for neurodegeneration research in relation to Alzheimer’s disease. However, they also noted that the paper had various errors and shortcomings, indicating a lack of rigor in its development.
While the report absolved Tessier-Lavigne of research misconduct, H. Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the Science family of journals, pointed out that ultimately, the lab boss is responsible for everything that occurs in the lab. He highlighted the report’s findings regarding lab culture and suggested that improved oversight and management were necessary due to the frequency of data manipulation and substandard scientific practices.
Tessier-Lavigne stated that he decided to step down because he anticipated ongoing debates about his ability to lead the university. He will continue his role as a biology professor and pursue research in brain development and neurodegeneration. Richard Saller, a classics professor, will serve as interim president starting Sept. 1, according to board chair Jerry Yang.