How do we prevent the next wave of research retractions?

Abstract

Early in my research career, in a laboratory in Japan, I gave my supervisor a set of results I was proud of. He asked me to run the whole experiment again. This wasn’t because he doubted my honesty, but because, as he said, “A result you cannot reproduce is not yet a result.” I was annoyed. But it turned out I had been wrong about one of my measurements. That experience of being asked to be careful is not an insult but a way of learning to respect the work—and it has stayed with me for 25 years now.