A joint investigation by CBC News and the Investigative Journalism Foundation revealed that a prominent Vancouver researcher allegedly manipulated data and concealed information about infected wounds to falsely promote his patented skin treatment as a rapid cure for long-standing bed sores. A leaked report disclosed that the study’s outcomes, if genuine, could have been groundbreaking for individuals with spinal cord injuries. However, the report indicated that the results were fabricated, and the public remained unaware of the investigation’s findings.
The detailed 64-page report, obtained by the Investigative Journalism Foundation and CBC News, outlined the actions of University of British Columbia (UBC) plastic surgery professor Aziz Ghahary during a trial for Meshfill. The report accused Ghahary of presenting falsified data on multiple occasions, breaching conflict of interest protocols, and facing allegations of bullying from another researcher.
The report from March 2021, authored by an investigative committee comprised of three external experts appointed by UBC, stated that Ghahary compromised his scholarly integrity to promote Meshfill as a treatment for chronic pressure ulcer wounds. Despite Ghahary publicly asserting the success of Meshfill in healing such wounds, none of the pressure ulcers in the study had actually healed, with some cases resulting in infections.
Following the completion of the investigation in 2021, Ghahary departed from his position at UBC after a tenure since 2005. The lack of transparency surrounding the investigation’s findings has raised concerns among experts regarding scholarly misconduct and the need for accountability and reforms in research practices. The report highlighted serious breaches in research ethics and potential harm to future clinical trial participants due to false claims made by Ghahary.
