This past October, Johns Hopkins University researcher Robert Getzenberg quietly retracted a paper originally published in 2007, noting "the inconsistencies in validating the data collection and recordation warrant retraction of the article."

The article originally published by the journal Urology found a novel protein that could be used to test for early stages of prostate cancer, and sparked a lawsuit by Onconome, a biotechnology company that funded the study.

Onconome argued that the biomarker test was "essentially as reliable as flipping a coin” before settling for an undisclosed amount in 2010, but it took another year before the paper was finally retracted.

“Johns Hopkins University takes the circumstances that led to the retraction extremely seriously,” said the University in a written statement. “Although internal investigations of the kind that might be triggered by the issues that have been raised are confidential, we want to emphasize that matters of integrity in research are at the core of our mission and we are committed to ensuring that all research conducted under the auspices of Johns Hopkins University are conducted to the highest ethical and scientific standards.”

Getzenberg remains on the Hopkins faculty, and co-authored nine papers last year.