A renowned Vancouver researcher has been found to have utilized fabricated data and concealed evidence of infected wounds in a leaked report, which revealed that his patented skin treatment, Meshfill, falsely claimed to heal long-standing bed sores within weeks. The report, obtained by the Investigative Journalism Foundation (IJF) and CBC News, detailed the actions of University of British Columbia (UBC) professor Aziz Ghahary during a pilot study for Meshfill. The investigation uncovered instances of presenting falsified results, breaching conflict of interest guidelines, and accusations of bullying.
The report, authored by a UBC-appointed investigative committee, accused Ghahary of compromising his scholarly integrity to promote Meshfill as a treatment for chronic pressure ulcer wounds. Despite public assertions of success, none of the pressure wounds in the study had healed, with some even developing infections. Following the investigation’s conclusion in 2021, Ghahary departed from his position at UBC, where he had been employed since 2005.
Meshfill never made it to the Canadian market and should not be confused with a cosmetic procedure advertised online. Jocelyn Maffin, from Spinal Cord Injury B.C., expressed enthusiasm for a product like Meshfill that could rapidly heal pressure ulcer wounds, highlighting the significant impact of these wounds on individuals with spinal cord injuries.
The investigation into Ghahary was initiated in 2019 after a complaint from Dr. Anthony Papp, a collaborator and principal investigator in the Meshfill pilot study. The report revealed discrepancies in data collection, ethical breaches, and misleading claims made by Ghahary, ultimately leading to the suspension of the study and the revocation of ethics approval for a follow-up study.
The lack of public disclosure regarding the investigation’s findings has raised concerns about transparency and accountability within the academic community. Experts emphasize the importance of addressing such misconduct to uphold scholarly integrity and ensure public trust in scientific research.