A fraudulent cancer breakthrough investigated
6 days ago
- #cancer_treatment
- #medical_research_scandal
- #scientific_misconduct
- Juliet Jacobs, suffering from stage IV lung cancer, sought experimental treatments, including a clinical trial at Duke University led by Dr. Anil Potti.
- Dr. Potti claimed to have developed algorithms to personalize chemotherapy based on genetic analysis of tumors, positioning himself as a rising star in cancer research.
- Despite early warnings from scientists like Keith Baggerly and Kevin Coombes about flaws in Potti's research, Duke University continued the clinical trials.
- A whistleblower, Brad Perez, exposed data manipulation in Potti's lab, but Duke leadership, including Sally Kornbluth, initially downplayed concerns.
- The National Cancer Institute (NCI) intervened, revealing Potti's fraudulent data and résumé lies, leading to the shutdown of the trials and retraction of his papers.
- Patients, including Juliet Jacobs, died without knowing their treatments were based on flawed science, prompting lawsuits and settlements.
- Sally Kornbluth, who oversaw Duke's response, later became MIT's president, with the Potti scandal scrutinized during her appointment.
- The scandal highlighted systemic issues in scientific research oversight, including conflicts of interest and institutional reluctance to confront misconduct.