By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-10-15 18:41:21 | Updated at 2026-10-15 19:29:06
53 minutes ago
A vaccine is given in Illinois on Sept. 9, 2022. Scott Olson/Getty Images
Science Translational Medicine on Oct. 14 announced the retraction of a paper on COVID-19 vaccination after learning the report contained fake data and images.
More than three years after publishing “SARS-CoV-2 S2–targeted vaccination elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies,” the journal stated that an investigation conducted by an institution for which some of the authors worked or work determined that the paper included “fabricated data” and “falsified images,” the retraction note stated.
The paper had claimed that experiments showed vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19, elicited strong antibodies.
The Francis Crick Institute in London conducted the investigation and concluded that first author Kevin W. Ng was responsible for the fake data and images. Ng, who worked for the institute in 2022, when the paper was published, has admitted responsibility, according to the note.
Ng could not be reached for comment.
“The existence of data fabrication casts doubt on some other experiments presented in the paper, for which primary data and samples are unavailable, precluding post hoc verification,” the retraction notice said. “In agreement with the findings of the investigation, we are retracting the article.”
Ng and many other authors agreed with the retraction, while two did not respond to communications, according to the journal.
Nature in January retracted another paper by some of the same authors, including Ng. That paper tested the responses of cells in the lungs of cancer patients to immunotherapy.
An investigation by The Francis Crick Institute found manipulated data and data for which the source could not be identified, according to Nature’s retraction notice. It blamed Ng.
“The authors apologize to the scientific community for any confusion and misunderstanding that may have arisen,” the notice said. “They are committed to publishing a revised and properly validated research report in the near future.”
George Kassiotis, who still works for the institute, was the corresponding author for both papers.
Neither he nor the institute returned requests for comment by publication time.
Nature in September added an editor’s note on an additional paper coauthored by Ng. “Readers are alerted that concerns have been raised regarding the reliability of data presented in this article,” the note reads. “Further editorial action will be taken if appropriate once the investigation into the concerns is complete and all parties have been given an opportunity to respond in full.”
The corresponding author for that paper, who does not work for the institute, did not return an inquiry.
A biographical website at kevinwng.com says that Ng writes about music and culture. It previously stated that he also writes about science, that he has a PhD in biology, and that he has done research on viral infections, cancer, and genetics. The site does not list any contact information.
