Results of Investigation into Misconduct in Research Activities

A research group led by former Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Ronald L. Reyes and Professor Masaya Sawamura at the Hokkaido University Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD) published a paper entitled “Asymmetric remote C-H borylation of aliphatic amides and esters with a modular iridium catalyst” (DOI:10.1126/science.abc8320) in the scientific journal Science in August 2020. However, the research group requested the withdrawal of the paper because the data used in the paper was found to be questionable, and the paper was withdrawn from the journal in April 2022.

Following a tip from a whistleblower, a Research Misconduct Investigation Committee was established in accordance with the Hokkaido University Regulations Concerning Misconduct in Research Activities, and has been investigating this matter. The Committee has now completed the investigation and reported that it found the research to be a case of research misconduct.

Three other papers with Reyes as the first author and Sawamura as the corresponding author, as well as one review paper, have also been withdrawn following the authorsʼ request.

In order to promote best practices in research, Hokkaido University has been taking steps to raise awareness of research ethics for all those involved in research within the university. It is truly regrettable that this incident has occurred under such circumstances, and we take this matter with the utmost seriousness. We express our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused to all concerned and for any damage to the trust in academic research.

We pledge to provide thorough education on research ethics and make certain that our entire organization will work together to increase ethical awareness and prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

Investigation report: https://www.global.hokudai.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Investigation-Report-on-Research-Misconduct.pdf