Further Notice on Myostatin Research

FURTHER NOTICE ON MYOSTATIN RESEARCH

As a top-ranked global university, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) upholds the highest research standards and international best practices in research. NTU has zero tolerance towards any form of research malpractice and will not hesitate to take action against anyone found to be lacking in research integrity.

In December 2015, NTU reported the outcome of investigations into allegations of malpractice in myostatin research which resulted in three retractions of papers, one withdrawal and two corrections. This has led to the revocation of the doctorate awarded to Sudarsanreddy Lokireddy.

Further investigations have revealed data falsifications in some of the in vitro laboratory studies, which invalidate the results reported and the following three papers are being retracted:

1. Myostatin induces insulin resistance via Casitas B-lineage lymphoma b (Cblb)-mediated degradation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) protein in response to high calorie diet intake

Journal of Biological Chemistry 2014 Mar 14; 289(11):7654-70. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M113.529925. Epub2014 Jan 22 

by Bonala S, Lokireddy S, McFarlane C, Patnam S, Sharma M, and Kambadur R.

2. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ induces myogenesis by modulating myostatin activity <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22362769>

Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2012 Apr 13;287(16):12935-51. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.319145. Epub 2012 Feb 23 

by Bonala S, Lokireddy S, Arigela H, Teng S, Wahli W, Sharma M, McFarlane C, and Kambadur R.

3. Pid1 induces insulin resistance in both human and mouse skeletal muscle during obesity

Molecular Endocrinology 2013 Sep; 27(9):1518-35. doi: 10.1210/me.2013-1048. Epub 2013 Aug 8

by Bonala S, McFarlane C, Ang J, Lim R, Lee M, Chua H, Lokireddy S, Sreekanth P, Leow MK, Meng KC, Shyong TE, Lee YS, Gluckman PD, Sharma M, and Kambadur R.

This research in myostatin was jointly carried out by researchers from NTU, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). NTU took the lead in the investigation, after consulting with A*STAR and NUS.

Following a further thorough investigation into the research group led by Professor Ravi Kambadur, he has been found wilfully negligent in the direction of the group and his joint employment at NTU and A*STAR has been terminated.

Further disciplinary proceedings are underway with respect to other researchers.​