Questions about the findings of earlier research (from the New York Times) have led to the pause of an NIH-funded trial testing stem cell therapy in heart failure patients, the Washington Post reported Oct. 29.
These reports are significant for several reasons. As the Post’s article notes, subject safety is of primary importance, and a research study that exposes subjects to risk may not be worthwhile if the science underpinning it is not sound. The details in the Times piece mirror those commonly associated with scientific misconduct allegations — conflicts between collaborators, accusations of manipulated data. However, the original researcher stands by his work. Please click on the links above to read the full story.