Dipak Das was a researcher at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine who published over 100 papers on the health benefits of resveratrol found in red wine. A three-year investigation found 145 counts of data fabrication and falsification in his work, including manipulating protein bands from separate experiments using image editing software. The university fired Das, declined $890,000 in grants for his lab, and sued him for $35 million in damages. Das denied the allegations and claimed racial discrimination led to his fraudulent research. He died at age 67 without contact from the university.

1. Fraud in a Glass of Wine :
THE CASE OF DIPAK DAS
Janice C. Laforteza
MS Food Science

2. DIPAK K. DAS
Indian Ph.D. graduate researcher
Professor and director of Cardiovascular
Research Center at the University of Connecticut,
School of Medicine in Farmington
117 articles on Resveratrol of Red Wine
Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, American
Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory
Physiology, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Work on alcohol, HDL, and the heart

3. Photoshop Fraud
Scientific misconduct investigated by the University of
Connecticut Health detailing 145 counts of data
fabrication and falsification
Manipulating the presentation of experiments called
Western Blot
Used image manipulation software where protein bands
from separate experiments were spliced and pasted
together
Tampered data

4. Findings of Investigation
Three-year investigation by University of Connecticut
Health Center
60,00- page report
Manipulation of results and deliberate doctoring of
critical data between 2002 to 2009
26 papers and cited no less than 88 manipulated
figures
Unequivocal image manipulation, splicing,
background erase and duplication

5. Results of the Case
Frozen all externally funded research in Das’s
laboratory
Declined to accept $890,000 in federal grants awarded
to him and cut off external funding to the lab
Dismissal proceedings
Fired from both positions at the University of
Connecticut Health Center
Sued for $35 million in damages, citing libel

6. What happened to him?
No contact from him
In a letter, Das denied the allegations
Racial discrimination
Caused him to suffer a stroke
Died at 67
Video of his side

7. References
• Resveratrol May Replace Aspirin As Heart Protector (Press release from Dr Dipak Das)
• Late resveratrol researcher Dipak Das up to 20 retractions
• Investigation Finds UConn Professor Fabricated Research - Work Focused On Resveratrol,
Chemical In Red Wine Hartford Courant, January 11, 2012)
• UConn Health Center says professor falsified data (The Connecticut Mirror, January 11,
2012)
• UConn Investigation Finds That Health Researcher Fabricated Data (The Chronicle of
Higher Education, January 11, 2012)
• Great Science Frauds - Dipak Das (TIME, January 12, 2012)
• http://articles.courant.com/2012-06-19/health/hc-uconn-dipak-das-appeal-0620-
20120619_1_uconn-board-board-of-trustees-votes-uconn-officials
• Wine research fraud slur on JU alumnus (The Telegraph (Calcutta), January 13, 2012)
• Red wine researcher flagged for fake data (CBS News, January 11, 2012)
• Wade, Nicholas (2012-01-11). "University Suspects Fraud by a Researcher Who Studied Red
Wine". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
• Red-Wine Researcher Charged With 'Photoshop' Fraud (Medscape)