RE: A Chimeric Vitronectin: IGF-1 Protein Supports Feeder-Cell-Free and Serum-Free Culture of Human Embryonic Stem Cells,by Manton KJ,S Richards,D Van Lonkhuyzen,L Cormack,D Leavesley,and Z Upton. Stem Cells Dev 19:1298–1305

C oncerns were raise by one of the coauthors, Luke Cormack, and, after an investigation was conducted by the authors' institution, The Queensland University of Technology; Stem Cells and Development is officially retracting the article, A Chimeric Vitronectin: IGF-1 Protein Supports Feeder-Cell-Free and Serum-Free Culture of Human Embryonic Stem Cells, by Manton et al., from volume 19, issue 9 (pages 1298–1305).

The concerns center primarily on whether the images provided in Fig. 1 show the colonies of the stem cell line described at the passage stated stained for the marker listed. There were also related concerns with the PCR data included.

It is important to note that the corresponding author, KJ Manton, has denied deliberate wrongdoing. Stem Cells and Development acknowledges and appreciates the thoroughness of the investigation undertaken by the Queensland University of Technology.

Stem Cells and Development believes that if the peer reviewers of the article had been aware of the extent and nature of the mistakes in the article that apparently went undetected by the authors through an initial submission, 2 revisions, as well as galley proof, and they would not have deemed the article acceptable.

Stem Cells and Development is dedicated to the highest ethic standards of scientific publishing.