In 2018, a biochemist in Scotland, Dario Alessi, became aware of image irregularities in two of his papers through comments on PubPeer, each in a different journal: "Role of the PDK1–PKB–GSK3 pathway in regulating glycogen synthase and glucose uptake in the heart" published in FEBS Letters, and "Deficiency of PDK1 in liver results in glucose intolerance, impairment of insulin-regulated gene expression and liver failure" published in Biochemical Journal (BJ). Only in July and October 2024, the papers were retracted.
In January 2019, following a preliminary investigation, the research integrity group at Dundee’s School of Life Sciences recommended a formal investigation, according to emails Inke Nathke, the interim dean and top research integrity officer at the School of Life Sciences, sent to the journals. Since Alessi was also affiliated with the UK-based Medical Research Council (MRC), they undertook the second investigation. The panel began its work in July 2021 and in December 2022 determined the two papers be retracted.
Six months later, Nathke contacted the journals with the results of both investigations. She waited four months for a response. It still took more than six months. On July 25, 2024, after several follow-up emails from Nathke, a staff member at the journal said the retraction was "just in the process of being published".
