Allegations of research misconduct were made about the Research Article “The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL mediates nuclear translocation of the epidermal growth factor receptor” by T. M. Brand, M. Iida, K. L. Corrigan, C. M. Braverman, J. P. Coan, B. G. Flanigan, A. P. Stein, R. Salgia, J. Rolff, R. J. Kimple, D. L. Wheeler, published in Science Signaling on 3 January 2017 (1). After an investigation by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison, the investigating committee found that that various data in Figs. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2E, 4B, 5D, 6A, and 6C, as well as in figs. S2B and S4 were duplicated, mislabeled, or had other anomalies. The committee found that these issues were due to carelessness and lack of attention to detail rather than through any intent to deceive, and thus concluded that no research misconduct was committed. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that whereas many of the figures could be updated with the original data, in some cases, the original data could not be identified. Thus, a complete correction of the record is not possible. Although it was determined by the investigating committee that these issues likely did not affect the overall conclusions of the study, the authors have requested that the paper be retracted in full to preserve the integrity of the scientific literature. The author Jana Rolff could not be contacted. The other authors of the Research Article have confirmed to the Editor of Science Signaling that they all concur with the retraction and apologize to the scientific community for any inconvenience caused. The Editor apologized for the delay in acting on this matter.
References
- 1.Brand TM, Iida M, Corrigan KL, Braverman CM, Coan JP, Flanigan BG, Stein AP, Salgia R, Rolff J, Kimple RJ, Wheeler DL, The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL mediates nuclear translocation of the epidermal growth factor receptor. Sci. Signal 10, eaag1064 (2017). [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] [Retracted]