Eliezer Masliah (born 1958 or 1959[1]) is a neuroscientist and medical researcher whose work concentrates on the biology of aging and Alzheimer's disease in particular.[2] He received his medical degree in 1982 from the National Autonomous University of Mexico.[3][4] He was appointed head of the U.S. National Institute on Aging's Division of Neuroscience in 2016.[5] He was previously a professor of neuroscience at the University of California, San Diego.[6][7]
His work specialized in the mechanisms of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, particularly around the alpha-synuclein protein.
He has a prolific body of work—much of which is now under scrutiny for containing manipulated images to support different conclusions than the real data—including 800 research papers, and has been widely regarded as one of the world's leading neuroscientists.[8][9][1][10] This body of work is now suspected of image and data irregularities.[1] In September 2024, the NIH released a statement that stated he was no longer serving in the role of Director of the Division of Neuroscience.[11]
Research misconduct allegations
editIn September 2024, Masliah's work came under intense scrutiny when an investigation led by the journal Science exposed extensive image manipulation across 132 of his published research papers. A dossier compiled by forensic analysts and neuroscientists pointed to repeated instances of Western blot manipulation, image reuse, and other forms of digital editing across decades of his research. These allegations involved crucial studies related to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, particularly surrounding the alpha-synuclein protein.[1]
The controversy includes papers that have influenced clinical trials, such as those related to the experimental Parkinson's drug prasinezumab. Several papers foundational to its development were flagged for image manipulation. Trials for drugs like cerebrolysin, an Alzheimer’s therapy, were also found to be based on questionable data from Masliah's lab.[12]
Masliah has not publicly commented on these findings. As of September 2024, the NIH confirmed that Masliah was no longer leading the Division of Neuroscience at the NIA, following an internal investigation initiated in May 2023.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Piller, Charles (26 September 2024). "Picture imperfect". Science. Washington: American Association for the Advancement of Science. doi:10.1126/science.z2o7c3k. Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "NIA Division of Neuroscience- UPDATE" (PDF). files.alz.washington.edu. October 15, 2016. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
- ^ "Advisory Board". Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ "Eliezer Masliah, MD | Parkinson's Disease". www.michaeljfox.org. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
- ^ "Eliezer Masliah, MD | AME". academicmedicaleducation.com. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
- ^ "Meet the director of the Division of Neuroscience". National Institute on Aging. 2016-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
- ^ "UCSD Profiles: Eliezer Masliah". profiles.ucsd.edu. Archived from the original on 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
- ^ "Eliezer MASLIAH". National Institute on Aging. Archived from the original on 2024-03-03. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ "Best Scientists - Neuroscience". research.com. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/fraud-so-much-fraud
- ^ "Statement by NIH on Research Misconduct Findings". National Institutes of Health (NIH). 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ Piller, Charles (27 September 2024). "Fraud, So Much Fraud". Science. American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ "NIH Statement on Research Misconduct". National Institutes of Health. 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
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