Dustin Gandof
An article by Ellie Hall, a senior reporter for BuzzFeed News, shed light on an 18-year-old college journalist who could potentially bring down Stanford University’s President, Marc Tessier-Lavigne. This revelation comes after an independent student news outlet published a piece, which prompted Stanford to investigate Tessier-Lavigne’s research over scientific misconduct allegations.
The student journalist, who remains anonymous, brought to light inconsistencies in Tessier-Lavigne’s research on the protein tPA, which is used to treat stroke patients. The student discovered that some of the studies Tessier-Lavigne co-authored contained manipulated images and that some of the data on the studies couldn’t be replicated.
The student’s reporting caught the attention of Stanford, which launched an investigation into the matter. This investigation could have severe consequences for Tessier-Lavigne, as scientific misconduct carries severe penalties, including job loss, loss of funding, and in some cases, even criminal charges.
The investigation is ongoing, and the outcome is yet to be revealed. However, the student journalist’s reporting has undoubtedly caused a stir at Stanford and has put Tessier-Lavigne’s career in jeopardy. It is yet another reminder of the importance of independent media and the crucial role young reporters can play in bringing wrongdoing to light.
