Investigation reveals ‘inappropriate data handling’ but no misconduct

Next steps

RIKEN said it will continue with the investigation and issue a full report upon its completion. The institute also aims to determine whether the STAP cell experiments can be reproduced.

“The reproducibility and credibility of the STAP phenomenon must be rigorously validated, not only by RIKEN scientists, but also by others,” said RIKEN President Ryoji Noyori, PhD.

“I have instructed our people to cooperate fully with researchers at outside institutions in their efforts to replicate the STAP cell results.”

Dr Noyori added that RIKEN is prepared to withdraw the Nature papers and take “strict disciplinary action” against the researchers involved if the investigation reveals deliberate misconduct.