The story of Bharat B. Aggarwal, a biochemist who has dedicated much of his career to the study of curcumin, is a true thriller in the world of scientific research. At the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Aggarwal conducted in-depth studies on this substance, present in turmeric and traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine, to explore its applications in the treatment of various pathologies, including several types of cancer.
His research, initially hailed as pioneering, soon turned into a nexus of academic controversy and dispute, raising fundamental questions about integrity in scientific research and its real-world impact.
Rise and fall of a researcher
Bharat B. Aggarwal, since joining the MD Anderson Cancer Center in 1989, has stood out for his interest in curcumin. By publishing more than 120 articles on the topic, Aggarwal has contributed significantly to the scientific literature on this substance. However, in 2012, his career took a dramatic turnaround following allegations of image manipulation at his studios.
The anonymous but detailed allegations led the MD Anderson Cancer Center to launch an investigation into Aggarwal, culminating in the retraction of many 30 of his articles.
The problem of retractions: it's not about curcumin
The amount of retractions associated with a single author like Aggarwal is currently rare and alarming. This phenomenon raises crucial questions about truthfulness and ethics in scientific research. Aggarwal's retracted articles featured numerous instances of manipulated and duplicated images, as well as ethically questionable cases involving the use of laboratory animals.
Why did he do it? This is exactly the point. Despite curcumin's popularity as a dietary supplement and the enormous volume of research produced, well-conducted clinical studies have never demonstrated its effectiveness as a therapeutic agent.
Curcumin is certainly safe for human consumption in most forms, but it simply does not have the properties required for a good pharmaceutical candidate. Fraud like manipulating searches has changed the trajectory of billions and billions of euros. Of thousands of small and large companies that have sold this supplement. And of millions of people convinced in good faith that they will obtain benefits.
Did this only happen with curcumin? Did it just happen now?
The importance of integrity in research
The case of Aggarwal and curcumin is emblematic of how scientific fraud can distort an entire field of research. Most studies and research (even funded by public bodies) on this topic continue to cite Aggarwal's work. It is unlikely that this explosion of funding and research would have occurred without the large-scale fraud perpetrated by Aggarwal.
It is the demonstration that, despite science's tendency to self-correct, the process has high costs: hundreds of millions of taxpayers' euros, countless hours of work by young scientists, thousands of laboratory animals sacrificed, patients involved in ineffective clinical trials and people who preferred unconventional treatments, based on research steeped in lies. Respect for science, trust in science depend on the rigor of scientists and the seriousness of checks.
It is useless to point the finger at conspiracy theories, in the absence of correctness.
