The Journal of Experimental Medicine has formally retracted a 2019 study that described a potential treatment for tumors associated with tuberous sclerosis complex, acting on the results of an investigation conducted by the authors’ own institution. The retraction notice was issued on June 12, nearly seven years after the paper’s original publication. The study, which appeared in the journal’s September 2019 issue, listed 12 authors and focused on a therapeutic approach for tumors caused by the genetic disorder.
According to the journal, the decision to retract followed a probe by the home institution of the research team. However, the notice did not identify which institution carried out the investigation, nor did it disclose the specific findings that prompted the retraction.
Retraction Follows Lengthy Institutional Review
The paper was first published in September 2019, presenting experimental work on a treatment for tuberous sclerosis complex, a condition characterized by the growth of noncancerous tumors in multiple organs. The timeline indicates that the institutional investigation began sometime after the paper appeared in print. The retraction notice, dated June 12, came nearly seven years after the original publication, and the record shows the journal acted only after the institutional review had been completed.
Sources familiar with the matter note that retractions in high-impact, long-standing journals such as the Journal of Experimental Medicine are relatively uncommon, but they carry significant weight within the scientific community. The retraction of this particular study does not necessarily invalidate the broader field of research into therapies for tuberous sclerosis complex; other research groups continue to explore therapeutic approaches for the condition.
The scientific community will be watching for possible further actions, including whether other journals issue corrections or retractions for related papers from the same research group, and whether the institutional investigation leads to additional findings.
A Journal with a Century of Scientific Influence
The Journal of Experimental Medicine has a distinguished history that underscores the importance of its editorial actions. Founded in 1896 at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine by William H. Welch, who initially served as its sole editor, the journal experienced a brief halt in publication from 1902 to 1904 due to editorial overload. It was then transferred to the Rockefeller Institute, which resumed publication in 1905 under the editorship of Simon Flexner.
Since that time, it has operated as a monthly peer-reviewed journal under Rockefeller University Press, covering research on disease mechanisms, immunology, cancer, and related fields. The journal is dedicated to studies on the physiological, pathological, and molecular mechanisms of disease, with a particular focus on intact organisms and human subjects.
As one of the oldest biomedical research journals in the United States, its long history and broad scope give its retractions an outsized influence in the scientific community, reflecting the integrity of research published in high-impact, prestigious outlets. The journal’s commitment to open access and public archiving further amplifies the visibility of such corrective actions. For individuals seeking medical advice regarding tuberous sclerosis complex or any health condition, consultation with a qualified physician is recommended.
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