SINGAPORE — About seven months after either retracting, withdrawing or correcting six research papers on myostatin, a protein produced in the human body, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has found evidence of falsified data in another three papers on the same subject and retracted them from two science journals.

The university has already sacked lead researcher Professor Ravi Kambadur, whose team included researchers from other institutions here. It has also started disciplinary proceedings against other researchers involved in the data falsification.

“He (Prof Kambadur) has been found wilfully negligent in the direction of the (research) group,” said the university on Wednesday (July 13).

News about the falsified data on the myostatin research first broke in December last year, after NTU started looking into “allegations of research malpractice” by the team of researchers from NTU, National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star).

Investigations threw up numerous instances of data alteration on the team’s research on myostatin, which controls muscle cell growth, as well as the presentation of data without adequate explanation on how they were derived. Following the probe, NTU revoked the doctorate of Dr Sudarsanreddy Lokireddy, who co-authored one of the retracted papers.

Earlier this week, the spotlight was turned on another three papers published between 2012 and 2014 in two journals, Molecular Endocrinology, and the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

NTU said: “Further investigations have revealed data falsifications in some of the in-vitro laboratory studies, which invalidate the results reported.”

Further disciplinary proceedings are underway with respect to other researchers, it added.

The nine papers highlighted had two names in common: Prof Kambadur and his wife Mridula Sharma, who was previously an associate professor at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

In response to TODAY’s queries, NUS would say only that Dr Sharma was no longer an employee at the university.

Apart from the couple, the latest three papers shared these authors: Dr Sabeera Bonala, Dr Craig McFarlane and Dr Lokireddy.

According to the A*Star website, Dr McFarlane is currently a principal investigator at the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences. Dr Bonala runs her own start-up.

In response to media queries on Friday, NTU research integrity officer Tony Mayer said the university upholds the highest standards and international best practices in research.

“NTU has zero tolerance towards research misconduct and will not hesitate to take disciplinary action against anyone found to be lacking in research integrity.

“The university takes allegations of research misconduct seriously and investigates all reported allegations,” said Mr Mayer.

NTU ensures that researchers adhere to international practices by making them sign a declaration of “good research practice and ethical behaviour”.

Mr Mayer added: “Online training in research integrity is compulsory for all PhD students, post-doctoral fellows, research fellows and project officers.”

A*star declined to respond to media queries, saying that investigations were led by NTU.