A leading scientist has been suspended by Dundee University while claims he falsified research data are investigated.
Dr Robert Ryan has received extensive funding for his work in molecular bacteriology which, it is hoped, could find new treatments for cystic fibrosis.
Dr Ryan is a Wellcome Trust senior research fellow and led a group of researchers specialising in understanding the signalling processes that occur within and between pathogenic bacteria during chronic infections.
He has won a number of top prizes and awards, including the Society for General Microbiology’s Fleming Prize.
However, it has been claimed he falsified evidence in his research by using the same image in a number of different papers but claiming they were different strains.
It is also alleged he flipped or rotated images to make the deception harder to spot.
A Dundee University spokesman confirmed a member of staff has been suspended while an investigation is completed.
* For more on this story see Monday’s Courier, also available as a digital edition.
