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Charles Piller

@charlespiller.bsky.social

Investigative reporter @sciencemagazine. Before: investigations for @statnews @sacbee_news @latimes. cpiller@charlespiller.com - Signal: cpiller.01 - Author of the book "Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's"

713 Followers  |  84 Following  |  237 Posts  |  Joined: 22.11.2024
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Posts by Charles Piller (@charlespiller.bsky.social)

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A medical journal says the case reports it has published for 25 years are, in fact, fiction A Canadian journal has issued corrections on 138 case reports it published over the last 25 years to add a disclaimer: The cases described are fictional. Paediatrics & Child Health, the journalโ€ฆ

I find it hard to be shocked by such admissions, but this one is pretty intense: A medical journal says the case reports it has published for 25 years are, in fact, fiction via @katetravis.bsky.social retractionwatch.com/2026/03/03/c...

04.03.2026 15:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

For more background, see @charlespiller.bsky.social 's reporting in Science here: www.science.org/content/arti...

20.02.2026 17:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 12    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
A collage of three problems highlighted on the relevant PubPeer thread. Each screenshot shows a figure from a scientific paper with photos of tissues (beige with brown cellular structures) and fluorescent cells (black background, green or red fluorescent structures). We have highlighted certain panels that overlap with boxes of the same color.

A collage of three problems highlighted on the relevant PubPeer thread. Each screenshot shows a figure from a scientific paper with photos of tissues (beige with brown cellular structures) and fluorescent cells (black background, green or red fluorescent structures). We have highlighted certain panels that overlap with boxes of the same color.

Another #retraction for former National Institute on Aging division director Eliezer Masliah today.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
pubpeer.com/publications...
Combined work by @mumumouse2.bsky.social , @thatsregrettab1.bsky.social, Matthew Schrag, @charlespiller.bsky.social and me.

20.02.2026 17:25 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 30    ๐Ÿ” 9    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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This glass wafer could back up your phoneโ€”and last 10,000 years Laser-written patterns on glass could store data for millennia at a time

This glass wafer could back up your phoneโ€”and last 10,000 years - this might be what I've been waiting 20 years for! www.latimes.com/archives/la-... | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

19.02.2026 18:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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STAT wins fourth Polk Award for reporting on impact of Trump on health STAT has won its fourth Polk Award in five years for documenting the Trump administrationโ€™s shakeup of the FDA, scientific research, and public health.

More well-deserved honors for STAT - Polk Award for reporting on impact of Trump on health www.statnews.com/2026/02/18/s... via @statnews.com

18.02.2026 17:05 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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UnEDXpected Peaks Over the past couple of days, I have been reviewing a series of Materials Science papers, all co-authored by the same group of researchers from the Universities of Lahore, Chakwal, and Sargodha in โ€ฆ

UnEDXpected Peaks - New and fascinating data explorations from @elisabethbik.bsky.social scienceintegritydigest.com/2026/02/09/u...

12.02.2026 16:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
CASW Connector Chat: Tips and Tools for Investigative Science Reporting
YouTube video by CASW ScienceWriting CASW Connector Chat: Tips and Tools for Investigative Science Reporting

Thanks to the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing @sciencewriting.bsky.social for hosting me for a webinar on investigative reporting on science, with the great @lizagross.bsky.social Here's the link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvxz...

12.02.2026 16:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Court challenge could chill reporting of research fraud, say whistleblower attorneys utah778/iStock The U.S. government recently announced a record $6.8 billion in False Claims Act settlements and judgments in 2025, the most in a single year since the lawโ€™s enactment 163 years ago.โ€ฆ

Court challenge could chill reporting of research fraud, say whistleblower attorneys retractionwatch.com/2026/02/11/f...

12.02.2026 15:37 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Controversial Danish vaccine research group faces new allegations Researchers say they couldnโ€™t find complete data for 10 trials that together enrolled tens of thousands of children in Guinea-Bissau

Controversial Danish vaccine research group faces new allegations | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

09.02.2026 17:25 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Inside the quest to make a safer football helmet New energy-absorbing designs and materials have revolutionized the iconic safety device

Inside the quest to make a safer football helmet | Science | - great pre-Superbowl examination by Adrian Cho - AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

05.02.2026 19:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 15    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance and Tragedy in Alzheimerโ€™s Research with Charles Piller
YouTube video by TeachEthnobotany Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance and Tragedy in Alzheimerโ€™s Research with Charles Piller

Thanks so much to Cassandra Quave for a great conversation on her podcast Foodie Pharmacology about my book โ€œDoctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimerโ€™sโ€ โ€“ now also out in paperback. www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVpf...

03.02.2026 17:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Alzheimer's Research Fraud: Charles Piller on Doctored Investigative journalist Charles Piller exposes Alzheimerโ€™s research fraud and the hidden misconduct that delayed cures and reshaped modern science.

Thanks to John R Miles for a great conversation about my book "Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's" on his podcast Passion Struck passionstruck.com/charles-pill...

30.01.2026 17:05 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Doctored (2025) by Charles Piller โ€“ IMMPress Magazine

New review of my book, "Doctored," which was just released in paperback, from a publication of the University of Toronto www.immpressmagazine.com/doctored-202...

27.01.2026 19:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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To hear some of the reporting details and conclusions of my book, "Doctored," about misconduct in Alzheimer's research, please check out my new interview with Melanie Avalon. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3...

16.01.2026 17:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Science journalists: Please join me in conversation with @lizagross.bsky.social on Jan 29 about deep dives into scientific research -- come with questions and ideas to share. Sponsored by @sciencewriting.bsky.social

15.01.2026 17:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Alzheimerโ€™s drug developers accuse clinical trial sites of faking data T3D Therapeutics alleges that contract researchers delivered โ€œmedically impossibleโ€ results on its candidate drug

Nice piece in @science.org by @charlespiller.bsky.social on clinical trial firms: www.science.org/content/arti... (Warningโ€”quotes me) Even gives me the last sentence: "Greely says..'Will you ever know [if trial results are being doctored]? Certainly not if you never look.'โ€

07.01.2026 23:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Excited that a box of the paperback edition of my book, โ€œDoctoredโ€ just arrived. On sale everywhere on Jan 13. www.simonandschuster.com/books/Doctor...

07.01.2026 17:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Exclusive: Have scientists found Leonardo da Vinciโ€™s DNA? Inside the decadeslong quest to reveal the genes of a geniusโ€”and revolutionize art authentication

๐Ÿงช EXCLUSIVE ๐Ÿงช from @science.org: Scientists have swabbed a 500-year-old drawing attributed to Leonardo da Vinciโ€”and may have found a piece of his DNA. www.science.org/content/arti...

Yes, really. A quick thread:

07.01.2026 16:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 50    ๐Ÿ” 24    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 6    ๐Ÿ“Œ 10
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Alzheimerโ€™s drug developers accuse clinical trial sites of faking data T3D Therapeutics alleges that contract researchers delivered

My latest story: Alzheimerโ€™s drug developers accuse clinical trial sites of faking data | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

07.01.2026 17:18 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 24    ๐Ÿ” 10    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
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Another Masliah retraction.

pubpeer.com/publications...

cc: @mumumouse2.bsky.social @elisabethbik.bsky.social @charlespiller.bsky.social and Matthew Schrag.

05.01.2026 20:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 14    ๐Ÿ” 6    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Cheers to 2025: In which Retraction Watch turned 15, and The Center For Scientific Integrity really became a center We always enjoy our annual review of the year at Retraction Watch, and 2025 is no exception. But weโ€™re more excited about what lies ahead than what we already accomplished.ย  Weโ€™re on track forโ€ฆ

2025: In which Retraction Watch turned 15, and The Center For Scientific Integrity really became a center retractionwatch.com/2025/12/30/c...

30.12.2025 16:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Opinion | Reflecting on yet another year of scientific fraud at the University of Minnesota Allegations a scientist doctored images in a paper on Alzheimerโ€™s. Rachel Hardeman's resignation. An investigation into a pediatrician's reports of child abuse. The U saw a number of scientific scanda...

Opinion | Reflecting on yet another year of scientific fraud at the University of Minnesota via @carlelliott.bsky.social "Deny wrongdoing, stonewall reporters, punish dissenters and wait for it all to blow over." www.startribune.com/umn-professo...

30.12.2025 16:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 9    ๐Ÿ” 6    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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My book โ€œDoctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimerโ€™sโ€ www.simonandschuster.com/books/Doctor... picked by NY Post among best of 2025. Paperback out 1/13. Iโ€™m honored to be among the illustrious authors on their list. nypost.com/2025/12/27/e...

29.12.2025 17:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Another Lesnรฉ paper retracted 4 years after I first flagged some concerns.

Thanks to all who helped on this project: @elisabethbik.bsky.social @mumumouse2.bsky.social @charlespiller.bsky.social, Matthew Schrag, and other anons.

pubpeer.com/publications...

28.12.2025 16:51 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 27    ๐Ÿ” 5    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The Retraction Watch Hijacked Journal Checker now has 400 entries Sham journals that mimic real ones can fool unsuspecting authors who are submitting a manuscript, researchers looking for references for papers โ€” and even indexing services aiming to be comprehensiโ€ฆ

The Retraction Watch Hijacked Journal Checker now has 400 entries retractionwatch.com/2025/12/26/r...

26.12.2025 15:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Doctored An Economist Best Book of 2025 So Far For readers of Empire of Pain and Dopesick, a โ€œgripping story of medical groupthink and warped incentivesโ€ (T...

My book "Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's" www.simonandschuster.com/books/Doctor... tops @thetransmitter.bsky.social most-read excerpt list for 2025. www.thetransmitter.org/books/the-tr...

24.12.2025 17:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 8    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Finally! Another key paper by Sylvain Lesnรฉ re purported key Alzheimerโ€™s-related protein amyloid-beta *56 is retracted. Validates findings by @thatsregrettab1.bsky.social @elisabethbik.bsky.social Matthew Schrag et al www.science.org/doi/full/10.... my original story: www.science.org/content/arti...

23.12.2025 19:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 25    ๐Ÿ” 9    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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U.S. senator asks Science to provide its coronavirus manuscripts, emails Rand Paul has blasted government science officials and scientists over COVID-19โ€™s origin

In a disturbing, chilling move, U.S. senator asks Science (including Science journalists) to provide its coronavirus manuscripts, emails | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

23.12.2025 15:24 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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ORI has released just two misconduct findings this year The U.S. Office of Research Integrity has been relatively quiet in 2025, releasing just two misconduct findings with only two weeks remaining in the year โ€” the fewest the office has released since โ€ฆ

ORI has released just two misconduct findings this year - Shocking but not surprising. via @katetravis.bsky.social retractionwatch.com/2025/12/18/o...

19.12.2025 15:37 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Scienceโ€™s 2025 Breakthrough of the Year: The unstoppable rise of renewable energy Clean energy infrastructure is being deployed with unmatched scale and speedโ€”and China is leading the way

Illuminating reporting and analysis in @science.org breakthrough of the year package. Don't miss the photo essay. www.science.org/content/arti...

19.12.2025 15:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 20    ๐Ÿ” 9    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0