Genetics journal retracts 18 papers from China due to human rights concerns

Researchers used samples from populations deemed by experts and campaigners to be vulnerable to exploitation, including Uyghurs and Tibetans

A genetics journal from a leading scientific publisher has retracted 18 papers from China, in what is thought to be the biggest mass retraction of academic research due to concerns about human rights.

The articles were published in Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine (MGGM), a genetics journal published by the US academic publishing company Wiley. The papers were retracted this week after an agreement between the journal's editor in chief, Suzanne Hart, and the publishing company. In a review process that took over two years, investigators found inconsistencies" between the research and the consent documentation provided by researchers.