The Ministry of Science and Technology website issued the "Notice on the Investigation and Handling Results of Violations in Paper Falsification and Other Illegal Countries" on the 16th, and disclosed the results of handling 9 violations involving the purchase of papers, violation of the paper signature norms, and embezzlement of financial research funds. The relevant responsible persons in were respectively punished for termination of national projects undertaking, recovery of project funds, suspension of postgraduate admission qualifications, termination or revocation of relevant honorary titles, and recovery of scientific research award funds.
Judging from the situation of the notice, the situation of buying and selling papers is still repeated. Seven out of 9 cases involved paper trading. The notice stated that the Ministry of Science and Technology will transfer the paper sales, writing and submission of third parties involved in the above cases to relevant departments for severe crackdowns in accordance with the law.
notice stated that during the investigation and handling of the case, relevant universities conscientiously fulfilled their main responsibilities and seriously investigated and dealt with issues involving personnel in their units, without evading or covering up, and this should be affirmed. The above cases also reflect that some project-bearing units fail to perform their responsibilities in project and funding management, and even commit fraud and act randomly, and a few scientific researchers have impetuous academic style, academic immorality, and integrity. These problems have seriously damaged the order of scientific research management, seriously damaged the good ecology of scientific and technological innovation, and have had a bad impact on the development of my country's scientific and technological innovation cause and the overall image of the scientific and technological community. They must be resolutely stopped and severely punished. The Ministry of Science and Technology resolutely implements the decisions and deployment requirements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. It will work with all localities and relevant departments to persist in building scientific research style, strengthen supervision and inspection, increase punishment, and investigate and punish violations any time they are found and investigated and punished. At present, the Ministry of Science and Technology, together with relevant departments, is investigating suspected fraudulent papers disclosed online and other scientific research integrity cases reported online, and the results will be announced one after another.
notice emphasized that universities, research institutions and enterprises engaged in scientific research must strictly implement the requirements of the "Handle 5 Opinions on Further Strengthening the Construction of Scientific Research Integrity" issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council , and actively discover and seriously deal with illegal use of funds and violations of integrity requirements of funds. The vast majority of scientific researchers must consciously practice the spirit of scientists in the new era, cherish their academic reputation, abide by scientific research norms, adhere to the bottom line of integrity, strengthen scientific research responsibility, and contribute scientific and technological strength to accelerating the construction of a world science and technology power and realizing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
reported the specific cases as follows:
1, Cancer Hospital Zhang Rui purchased papers. After investigation, it was found that the paper "Interleukin-37 mediates the antitumor activity in colon cancer through B-catenin suppression" by Zhang Rui, the Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, is a commissioned third party to write and submit. China Medical University dealt with relevant responsible persons, terminated Zhang Rui's National Natural Science Foundation project , ordered the return of project funds, canceled his qualification for applying for the National Natural Science Foundation project for 5 years, and stopped his qualification for postgraduate enrollment, etc.; cancelled Yan Xiaofei's qualification for applying for the National Natural Science Foundation project for 5 years.
2. Problem of Yu Tao purchasing papers at the Cancer Hospital of China Medical University. After investigation, it was found that the paper "Reduced mir-125a-5p level in non-small cell lung cancer is associated with tumour progression" by Yu Tao, the Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, is a commissioned third party to write and submit. China Medical University has dealt with relevant responsible personnel, terminated the Liaoning Provincial Science and Technology Public Welfare Research Fund Program undertaking Yu Tao, ordered the return of project funds, canceled his qualification for applying for science and technology program projects for 5 years, and stopped his qualification for postgraduate enrollment; cancelled Liu Hongxu's qualification for applying for science and technology program projects for 5 years, and stopped his qualification for postgraduate enrollment.
3, , Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital Zhang Jian’s paper purchase questions. After investigation, it was found that the paper "Interleukin-35 expression is associated with colon cancer progression" by Zhang Jian, an affiliated hospital of Qingdao University, was the first corresponding author and the first author, and Zhang Jian, a second corresponding author of Qingdao University, was written and submitted by Zhang Jian, who was commissioned by a third party. Zhang Jian did not supervise effectively and used the paper to apply for scientific research awards. Qingdao University dealt with relevant responsible persons, cancelled Zhang Jian's qualification to apply for science and technology plan projects and rewards for five years, terminated or revoked the scientific research projects, academic awards, honorary titles, etc. obtained based on the paper; Zhang Jian was given a warning and recovered the issued scientific research awards.
4. Fujian Medical University affiliated Zhangzhou Hospital Cai Lisheng purchases paper questions. After investigation, it was found that Cai Lisheng, a paper with the corresponding author of Zhangzhou Hospital affiliated to Fujian Medical University, was the first author of "Epigenetic silenced mir-125a-5p could be self-activated through targeting Suv39h1 in gastric cancer", which was commissioned by Cai Lisheng to write and submit on behalf of the person. Cai Mingzhi used the paper to apply for postgraduate admission qualifications. Fujian Medical University has dealt with relevant responsible persons, cancelled Cai Lisheng's qualification to apply for science and technology program projects for 5 years, suspended his postgraduate enrollment qualification for 3 years; cancelled Cai Mingzhi's qualification to apply for science and technology program projects for 3 years, suspended his postgraduate enrollment qualification for 2 years.
5. . . Nanjing Medical University affiliated . Suzhou hospital Wang Zhen purchased thesis. After investigation, it was found that Wang Zhen, the paper "Interleukin-36 receptor antagonist is associated with the progression of renal cell carcinoma" by Wang Zhen, a affiliated hospital of Nanjing Medical University, was written and submitted by Wang Zhen. Nanjing Medical University dismissed Wang Zhen, removed his director of nephrology, revoked his party branch secretary of the Nephrology Department, recovered the funds for introduced talents, and canceled his application for science and technology plan projects and rewards for five years.
6. Problem of Wang Xiuli from Shandong University purchasing thesis. After investigation, it was found that the paper "Reduced M6A MRNA methylation is correlated with the progression of human certificate cancer" by Shandong University Kong Beihua , an in-service doctoral student at Shandong University and the first author of Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital. Wang Xiuhua was entrusted by a third party to write and submit. Wang Xiuli listed him as the corresponding author without Kong Beihua's consent and forged the email address of the corresponding author. Kong Beihua was not aware of the writing and submission of the paper. Shandong University has dealt with relevant responsible persons, canceled Wang Xiuli's application for doctoral degree, and suspended Kong Beihua's postgraduate supervisor enrollment qualification for one year. Based on the facts found, Wang Xiuli's qualification to apply for or undertake national science and technology plans (special projects, funds, etc.) for 5 years will be cancelled.
7, Nanjing University of Science and Technology Lu Wei’s paper purchase question. After investigation, it was found that the paper "Data acquisition ad hoc network system based on wireless sensor" by Nanjing University of Science and Technology Yang Yuwang is the corresponding author, and Lu Wei, an in-service doctoral student at Nanjing University of Science and Technology and the first author of Huaiyin Normal University, was written by a third party commissioned by Lu Wei. Lu Wei listed him as the corresponding author without Yang Yuwang's consent and forged the email address of the corresponding author. Yang Yuwang was unaware of the publication of the article and asked Lu Wei to withdraw the article immediately after the article was published. Nanjing University of Science and Technology dealt with relevant responsible personnel, cancelled Lu Wei's doctoral degree and terminated his doctoral qualifications; and gave Yang Yuwang critical education. Based on the facts found, Lu Wei’s qualification to apply for or undertake national science and technology plans (special projects, funds, etc.) for 5 years will be cancelled.
8, , Henan University , First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Mingfei violated the paper signature specifications. After investigation, it was found that the paper "Interleukin-35 Expression in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer is Associated with Tumor Progression" by Zhang Shuanglin, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University, is the corresponding author and Sun Mingfei is the first author, and is completed and submitted by Sun Mingfei. Sun Mingfei signed him as the corresponding author without Zhang Shuanglin's consent, and registered the corresponding author's email address to contact the journal. Zhang Shuanglin was unaware of the writing and submission of the paper, but after learning that the paper was published, he did not propose to the journal to revoke the signature of his corresponding author.Henan University dealt with relevant responsible persons, canceled Sun Mingfei's qualification to apply for science and technology plan projects and evaluation for three years, revoked the relevant projects, rewards and honors obtained based on the paper, and recovered the bonuses; Zhang Shuanglin's qualification to apply for science and technology plan projects and evaluation for one year.
9. Issues of Beijing Huayou Guanchang Environmental Protection Energy Technology Development Co., Ltd. embezzling financial research funds. After investigation, Beijing Huayou Guanchang Environmental Protection Energy Technology Development Co., Ltd. has problems such as forging expenditure proof materials and distributing expenditures unrelated to the project in the implementation of international scientific and technological cooperation projects, which violated the scientific and technological plan project and fund management regulations and violated the requirements of scientific research integrity. The Ministry of Science and Technology decided to confiscate 960,700 yuan of illegal projects and cancel the qualification of the company and the project manager Wu Zongyi to apply for financial funding for five years. Other clues of suspected violations of regulations and discipline will be transferred to relevant departments for investigation and punishment in accordance with the law.
(Editor Yin Huixian)
