The researcher, Sonia Melo, now at the University of Porto in Portugal, alleges MD Anderson did not follow its own policies while conducting its investigation. Melo lost a prestigious grant in 2016 after one of her papers was retracted for containing duplicated images.

M. Anderson’s investigation concerned a paper published in Cancer Cell in 2014. On August 7, 2025 the journal marked it with a "temporary Expression of Concern" detailing duplicated and relabeled data found in the probe, which was completed in May 2024.

Melo "expressly denies the findings of research misconduct made by MD Anderson," according to her lawsuit, filed in Harris County, Texas. She asked the court to declare MD Anderson had infringed her due process rights, and void the institution’s final decision of research misconduct.

Source https://retractionwatch.com/2025/08/28/exclusive-sonia-melo-sues-md-anderson-cancer-center-misconduct-finding/

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