Updated · The Transmitter: Neuroscience News and Perspectives · Jul 8
Zurich Clears Aguzzi in 36-Paper Probe, Orders Fixes or Retractions for 7 Studies
Updated
Updated · The Transmitter: Neuroscience News and Perspectives · Jul 8
Zurich Clears Aguzzi in 36-Paper Probe, Orders Fixes or Retractions for 7 Studies
1 articles · Updated · The Transmitter: Neuroscience News and Perspectives · Jul 8
Summary
A University of Zurich probe found no research misconduct or negligence by Adriano Aguzzi after reviewing 36 papers from 1996 to 2023, despite identifying scientifically significant errors in seven studies.
The report said Aguzzi was responsible for errors in up to 12 papers—24 of the 36 listed him as corresponding author—but intent or negligence could not be established, the threshold for misconduct.
Zurich said Aguzzi must retract or correct the seven flawed papers, warning that failure to do so would itself violate good scientific practice; Aguzzi said he wants to fix or withdraw whatever is wrong.
The 2024 investigation was triggered by a dossier and PubPeer concerns over dozens of papers, while research-integrity expert Elisabeth Bik criticized the outcome as too narrow and argued co-authors should also have been investigated.
The case lands amid a broader record of scrutiny: two Aguzzi co-authored papers were retracted in the past two years, a 2023 preprint was withdrawn, and Zurich recommended tighter data retention and figure screening.