Cell publisher investigates editor accused of soliciting bribes from China
Cell Press, one of the world’s leading scientific publishers, has launched an investigation after prominent Chinese biologist Rao Yi accused the editor-in-chief of a top medical journal of soliciting bribes from mainland authors. “Several important international academic journals have seen editors, and even editors-in-chief, soliciting and accepting bribes,” said Rao, a tenured chair professor at…
Cell Press, a leading scientific publisher, has initiated an investigation following accusations made by a Chinese biologist, Rao Yi, against the editor-in-chief of Cancer Cell, Steve Mao, for allegedly soliciting bribes from authors. Rao claimed that the practice of editors soliciting bribes is not an isolated incident, and several international academic journals have witnessed such behavior.
Rao emphasized that Chinese scientists should boycott such editors. Mao, a native of Peking University and a former PhD graduate from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, has been the editor-in-chief of Cancer Cell since 2020. Cell Press has stated that it is conducting an investigation with the help of an external party and will not make any further comments at this time.
Mao was scheduled to attend an academic conference co-hosted by Cell Press and Westlake University in early November but was replaced by a colleague. Rao alleged that the issue was widespread and that he had heard from Chinese scientists of "serious issues" with editors demanding personal financial payments in exchange for helping researchers publish their papers.
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