Nature 443, 253(21 September 2006) | doi:10.1038/443253a; Published online 20 September 2006
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v443/...ll/443253a.html

Mystery surrounds lab death
Ichiko Fuyuno and David Cyranoski, Tokyo

Japanese biologist found poisoned at his bench.


On 1 September, Yasuo Kawasaki, a 42-year-old assistant professor at Osaka University, was found dead in his lab after ingesting poison. The investigation into the case so far has left many questions unanswered — including whether the death was connected to a recently withdrawn article on which Kawasaki was a co-author.

That paper suggested that a type of DNA helicase called MCM2p plays an important role in DNA replication (W. Nakai et al. J. Biol. Chem. 10.1074/jbc.M603586200; 2006). It was published online on 12 July. But on 2 August, the journal marked it as "withdrawn".

Osaka University began an investigation on 9 August into whether the paper contained false data. In the midst of the inquiry, Kawasaki's body was found — police suspect that his death was a suicide, although they are still working on the case.

Many who knew Kawasaki have expressed surprise and shock at his death. "He was a talented young scientist," says John Diffley, an expert in DNA replication at Cancer Research UK's London Research Institute, who knew him since Kawasaki was a postdoc at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. "His career seemed to be going very well."

Hisato Kondoh, dean of the Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences at Osaka, dismisses any suspicion that Kawasaki might have killed himself after being caught engaging in scientific misconduct. "The person who committed suicide was not involved in scientific fraud," he says. Kondoh declined to comment further on the ongoing investigation into the paper, saying only that the results will be made public when they are complete.

But the events leading up to the withdrawal of the paper are far from clear. Nature has learned that Akio Sugino, head of Kawasaki's lab and corresponding author on the paper, had submitted it for publication without checking with all of his co-authors. According to Japanese press reports, Kawasaki subsequently found that some of his data had been changed, so he asked Sugino to withdraw the article, and informed Kondoh. The university is also investigating several other related papers from the group.

Sugino was not available for comment. Robert Simoni, deputy editor of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, also declined Nature's request for information about why the paper was withdrawn, and refused to clarify how a withdrawal differs from a retraction. But scientists in the field describe Sugino as well respected and of high integrity — "a venerable old hand at DNA replication" as Diffley puts it.

Some of the details surrounding Kawasaki's death are also mysterious. Although suicide is relatively common in Japan, the cause of death tends to be hanging or gassing. Kawasaki died from ingesting sodium azide, a white, odourless solid that causes convulsions and respiratory failure within minutes. Such a method of suicide is extremely rare in Japan, according to National Police Agency statistics.

The suicide note was also unusual — rather than being handwritten, it was printed out from a computer. And despite being addressed to his family, it was found, along with an empty container of sodium azide, in the lab where Kawasaki's body was discovered. According to the Osaka police department, the note was an explanation of Kawasaki's emotions. It did not mention the withdrawn paper or specific problems at work. It began: "Things at work have settled down. I want to resolve the problem."

When asked about rumours that there was intense pressure on Kawasaki before his death, Kondoh said that measures had been in place to protect whistleblowers since the beginning of the incident. He added that there is no evidence of a connection between the apparent suicide and the withdrawn paper.

I really hope the university gets to the bottom of this. It will be a shame if it is a whitewash.
Japanese universities often respond slowly to suspicions of fraud, and aren't known for their transparency. Diffley says he now hopes Osaka will buck that trend. "I really hope the university gets to the bottom of what happened," he says. "It will be a shame if it is a whitewash." He points out that without a definitive investigation result, rumours of misconduct could blight the whole group. "The careers of many scientists will be affected."

Kiyoshi Kurokawa, president of the Science Council of Japan, agrees. "Japanese universities and institutions may not always take the right approach to resolving problems," he says. "But do they realize that the science community around the world is watching?"



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I do think it was suicide, Japanese are famous for offing themselves. But the circumstances may indicate he was put or coerced into a position where he was more likely to commit suicide. Whether this was intentional or not, it doesnt speak much for the way Japanese treat their researchers. Especially the ones (accused of) making mistakes.

What, not insane enough for you guys? :headscrat

Sounds like a case of suicide to me, at least from what I've read of the article. Just because we don't know the reason(s) why some prominent people commit suicide doesn't mean there's a deeper conspiracy-type glow about it.

Kiku I was only posting it to see what alternative theories other people would come up with. I mentioned I thought it was suicide.

I was speaking in general.

I suppose I could alter the story and post it somewhere else.

Perhaps instead of a plant-toxin, the cause of death was unknown, and instead of a university it took place at secret underground facility, and instead of a withdrawn paper, he wanted to withdraw out of a secret project that was rumoured to involve extraterrestrial life and a horrible weapon.

He guy had an incredible career. Look at all his papers in pubmed!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.f...%22%5BAuthor%5D

I bet the shame of the withdrawl made him nuts.

Those are obviously not the same person. Unless he worked on every type of research imaginable.

You can have a great family, job, money.. some people just want to end it. could be a chemical imbalance?? at least thats what I read.

RN posts: “…I do think it was suicide, Japanese are famous for offing themselves. But the circumstances may indicate he was put or coerced into a position where he was more likely to commit suicide. Whether this was intentional or not, it doesnt speak much for the way Japanese treat their researchers. Especially the ones (accused of) making mistakes.

For cryin’ out loud RN, what’s with your bashing Japanese work ethics and culture. Throwing in your 2 cent 'backstory' crap. What does not speak much for the way Japanese treat their researchers?

Did you post this news item just to “bash a Jap?”

I lived in Tokyo for 3 years, worked with many professional Japanese and found their work ethic and culture to be a refreshing change from that of the USA’s. For whatever reason, your callous remarks regarding this man’s death tripped my trigger. Fortunately, my safety is on. Peace and love~rore

Why the outrage? Suicide is huge in Japan, and if a prominent researcher turned out to be discredited or ruined, it wouldn't be shocking for them to commit suicide.

I first found the withdrawn paper, and then clicked on the author for more of his research. Generally there are several initials when there are several authors with similar names to avoid confusion, but maybe the Japanese don't care that much about Pubmed and don't prepare in advance like that?
I dunno. Pubmed says they're all by the same guy, though.

ETA:
Either way, cancer research is by far the most prestigious of all the biological research sciences. It's amazingly tough to get into, and the blow would have been devastating.

isnt poisoning a painful way to go? It's kind of gross too. throwing up all over yourself before dying.

Bullet is probably the most effective way. Or jumping off a very large building. I think hitting the ground would send all your senses into shock and going completly numb. Jumping off a bridge into water seems ideal for alot of people, but you might live and dround to death slowly, which I hear is painful.