Several Harvard University researchers in the school's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) are facing multiple allegations of academic misconduct. The most serious of these charges relate to the use of false information and data as the basis for conclusions in research papers. If the accused researchers are found to have violated university policies, they could face discipline up to and including dismissal from the university.  

If you are a university student facing academic misconduct allegations, you need to understand that your academic career is at risk and act accordingly. No university wants its reputation tarred by student misconduct, and they're making it a priority to root out bad behavior. Do not leave your future in the hands of a university disciplinary committee. Call the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-8686 or contact us online today.  

The Current Scandal Has Rocked Harvard's Medical School 

Harvard's medical school is universally regarded as one of the best in the world and the DFCI is officially partnered with the university's medical school to provide student instruction. That's why this falsified research scandal, which has caused DFCI to officially retract six published papers and issue corrections for 31 others, has rocked the institution to its core.  

Sholto David, who is known for investigating academic misconduct, was the first person to allege impropriety by research staff at DFCI when he publicized the charges in a blog post titled “Dana-Fabercations at Harvard University.” In the post, David noted that the “level of data fabrication is pathetically amateurish and excessive,” which also implies that DFCI is suffering from a lack of effective oversight of its researchers.  

Perhaps more troublingly, David also contends that the misconduct and false research he discovered are part of a pattern of misconduct that has plagued DFCI research for quite some time. His blog post elaborated on that claim when he wrote that “far worse skeletons than plagiarism exist in the archives” and further alleged that what he uncovered was just the “tiny tip of the fraud iceberg.” 

DFCI Defends its Reputation and Integrity 

In a letter to the Harvard Crimson student newspaper, DFCI Research Integrity Officer Barrett J. Rollins confirmed receipt of David's allegations and noted that many of the researchers and scientists David mentioned by name have already begun working to address and correct their mistakes. However, Rollins defended the DFCI's reputation and that of Harvard University as a whole.  

Rollins' email acknowledged the errors, but his email also explained that there may not have been any malicious or fraudulent intent behind the irregularities David referenced in his blog post. Rollins went further when he said, “Our experience is that errors are often unintentional and do not rise to the level of misconduct.”  Despite that, it's difficult to imagine that the named professors and researchers will not be subject to some form of university investigation.  

You Have the Right to Defend Your Academic Reputation 

Regardless of what university you attend or what field of study you choose, your academic reputation is something that will follow you for your entire adult life. If you're subject to an academic misconduct investigation for any offense, the university's priority will be protecting its reputation, not yours. That means they are more likely to err on the side of throwing you out of school than they are on letting you continue your studies.  

That also means it's up to you to defend yourself and your reputation. Even if university policy doesn't allow you to be represented by legal counsel in an academic misconduct investigation, having an experienced team of lawyers helping you plan and execute your defense strategy could be the difference between an outcome you can live with or dismissal.  

Don't play games that involve student discipline or academic misconduct investigations. An honest mistake on your part or misunderstanding by your professor doesn't have to destroy your academic reputation. Call the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online today. We will put your interests first, protect your reputation, and do everything we can to keep your academic career on track.