Mao vs Rao: Cell Press probe clears editor but Chinese biologist keeps up pressure
Prominent biologist Rao Yi is refusing to back down after Cell Press said it had found no evidence that top journal editor Steve Mao sought bribes from Chinese scientists. In a statement published on Thursday evening, Cell Press – one of the world’s leading scientific publishers, owned by Elsevier – said its investigation had “largely concluded” and “found no evidence to support the…
Biologist Rao Yi has not accepted Cell Press's conclusion of no evidence of bribery by editor Steve Mao, despite the publisher's extensive investigation. Rao, a tenured chair professor at Peking University, maintains his criticism of the journal Cancer Cell and its editor-in-chief, insisting it would be a disaster for Elsevier if Mao remains in the position.
He warns Mao of two options: resignation from his editor-in-chief role or filing a defamation lawsuit against him. Rao's allegations, first reported in mid-October, claim that several international academic journals have seen bribery by editors and editors-in-chief, citing a case where he alleged a doctor bribed an editor for publication.
Cell Press initiated an investigation in response to Rao's claims, interviewing staff, reviewing communication records and statistical data. However, the publisher states it found no evidence to substantiate Rao's claims, emphasizing adherence to internationally accepted best practices and evidentiary standards.
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