Briggs affair

Michael Briggs (20 August 1935 – 1986^{[dubious – discuss]}) was an English biochemist forced to resign from his position at Deakin University in Australia, after it was discovered he had faked results pertaining to the contraceptive pill.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} Briggs had previously worked for Schering Pharmaceuticals (now part of Bayer).^[7]

Events

Concerns about Briggs's work were first raised in 1983^[8] though it took years for the fraud to be discovered^[9] and some who spoke out received threats.^[10][11] Briggs resigned and moved to Spain^[12] which impeded the investigation against him.^[13][14][15] Investigative journalist Brian Deer found Briggs in Spain, where he confessed to scientific fraud; making up evidence.^[16]

Fraud

Briggs claimed to have conducted animal research on beagles at Deakin which could not have been possible as well as use of a hormone not available in Australia.^[12] Briggs was found to not have a PhD from Cornell University as he claimed.^[11][17][14]

Aftermath

Historian Jan Sapp's materials about the affair have been collated at the University of Melbourne.^[18] A report into the affair was conducted by Margery Ramsay in 1988^[6] which was going to be the basis of a book subtitled gross scientific misconduct.^[19] Briggs's daughter has published a book about her father titled The scientist who wasn't there: a true story of staggering deception.^[17][20]

See also

• Milena Penkowa
• Jan Hendrik Schön
• List of scientific misconduct incidents