Science Translational Medicine retracts vaccine study due to data fabrication

The journal Science Translational Medicine has retracted a high-profile 2022 study regarding a potential universal COVID-19 and cold vaccine. Following an investigation, the journal identified fabricated data in one figure and falsified images in another.

Lead author Kevin W. Ng has admitted to the manipulation. While no evidence of research misconduct was found among the other authors, the study had gained significant international attention since its publication on July 27, 2022, and had been cited 83 times.

The retraction highlights the limitations of the peer-review process, as the fraudulent data remained in the scientific literature for over four years. The original findings were widely reported by major international media outlets as a promising step toward a universal vaccine.