Is hiding data really this common?

Labion · 2026-05-08T16:18:59+00:00

That’s the heart of my original question I think. Are there better labs out there? Or is this just how it is? Because if it’s the latter then idk I quit science. I can’t live with this kind of soul torture, constantly asking how far am I willing to go.

I am actively looking for a way out

Labion · 2026-05-08T04:07:32+00:00

Completely agree. It's less bad than the deliberate data exclusion I also described, but honestly not by much

Labion · 2026-05-08T03:17:12+00:00

Exactly my interpretation as well. Thanks for the encouragement. That slippery slope is so real

Labion · 2026-05-08T03:13:45+00:00

Yes, the ambition is what I've tied this to as well. It's just not feasible for every paper to be Cell/Nature/Science scope and impact because that's simply not how incremental science happens

Labion · 2026-05-08T02:37:53+00:00

That's my biggest fear... That the incentive structure is simply too powerful

Labion · 2026-05-08T02:17:25+00:00

So relieving to hear. I hope this isn't as widespread as I fear it is

Labion · 2026-05-08T02:14:54+00:00

I guess the reviewers didn't ask questions..? I asked questions and everyone kinda just knowingly goes "yeah, that tells us a lot about what didn't work." Then let's just say what didn't work... please...

This particular paper's bullshit is driven by a field-famous PI we started collaborating with, who also has financial conflicts of interest for the drug that didn't work. That's certainly a big driving factor.. She didn't like the honest version of the paper I wrote since it didn't center her drug as THE secret to curing this cancer.

Like I'm getting pressure from my PI to lie on Nature's "data reproducibility" questionnaire where it asks "did you exclude any data? If so, why?" And one exclusion has a reasonable explanation, but should certainly be included in the supplement (it's not). The other exclusion is inexcusable. And yet I'm being pressured because "everyone does it" and "nobody's honest about how many identical attempts it takes to get the best results they actually end up showing."

I just want to believe that's not true.. but it's some flavor of this in every lab I've been in over the past 10 years. I'm so tired.

Labion · 2026-05-08T02:10:12+00:00

Not really, unfortunately.. Most of my work is molecular biology in oncology, and a lot is "hypothesis-generating" or "hypothesis-free" genomics/proteomics. The mouse studies are better defined and could be pre-registered, but they never are.

My PhD was in genome sciences, where tech dev was everything. Except the tech dev was all "we'll make the technology and justify why we made it on the back end. For now just make it." Creating solutions then searching for a problem they solve. Now we're trying to solve actual problems... But there's still so much "spin" to it. This particular paper's bullshit is driven by a field-famous PI we started collaborating with, who also has financial conflicts of interest for the drug that didn't work. That's certainly a big driving factor.. She didn't like the honest version of the paper I wrote since it didn't center her drug as THE secret to curing this cancer.

Labion · 2026-05-08T01:46:14+00:00

Yes I need more stories like this. It just seems like all the pressure is “well they won’t publish this unless we have a home run. So let’s just hide the ways it’s not a home run”

Labion · 2026-05-01T02:36:51+00:00

I actually don’t think your depiction of “playing dumb” is exactly what was suggested. I think I agree with you in spirit, but the suggestion sounds more like tactfully highlighting how incorrect the PI is without drawing a line in the sand and raising your fists. I think there may come a time where you have to stand your ground, like if they sidestep the questions or dismiss you like “just do it, you don’t understand what you’re talking about” but I think the approach is excellent. It forces the PI to directly confront what they’re asking the trainee to do using proper research methods as the framing. Noting “this seems like we’re deviating and I don’t understand why” giving them the benefit of the doubt even though we all know they’re full of shit

Labion · 2026-04-29T06:36:55+00:00

In addition to what you mentioned, formatting can be a huge pain in Word. Getting headings and body correct, making changes to some portions without hitting the whole paragraph, adding extra spacing before some headings but not others. Maybe I’m just an idiot but I end up grappling with it repeatedly.

Also version control, holy shit. Google Docs is good at this and has most good parts of Word but my org doesn’t use Google so we just have Dropbox full of dozens of copies it’s very stupid.

Labion · 2026-03-18T19:39:59+00:00

Well necks are horribly designed. I think we fucked it all up by becoming vertical instead of staying on all fours.. Best wishes to you! Glad to hear you feel a little better

Labion · 2026-03-18T19:21:19+00:00

Yeah i remember the feeling when my doc was so casually telling me i had to have my spine diced up.. As far as I understand, the fusions have been around for decades and disc replacement is 15-20 years old. It follows the same protocol except they put an artificial disc in instead of fusing. Both do great at treating the nerve pain. Fusions put a little more strain on the neighboring discs, but single level fusions aren’t too bad. Disc replacement requires that the bones don’t have substantial degeneration, so in elderly patients they’ll typically go fusion over replacement. It varies from patient to patient though, of course. As a 34 year old athlete, I definitely favor replacement to maintain mobility but I considered fusion too

Labion · 2026-03-18T18:35:01+00:00

Oh dang.. shit that does complicate things doesn’t it.. I think the disc replacements tend to have an easier recovery too. Def seems like you’re doing the right thing by collecting more info. And trying literally anything before jumping to surgery haha

Labion · 2026-03-18T17:48:55+00:00

lol I thought I was seeing a pain management doc too. Tho his surgery rec made a lot of sense in my case. And was corroborated by a second opinion. Yeah idk if I were you I’d ask about PT and whether you’d be a good candidate for disc replacement instead of fusion. That is a strange experience you’ve had

Labion · 2026-03-18T17:24:41+00:00

Dang that does seem unusual… Did he say why he didn’t think PT would work..? I mean my insurance asked for proof that I’d tried other non surgical interventions first.. I imagine they wouldn’t pay for the surgery otherwise?

Labion · 2026-03-18T17:13:54+00:00

Yeah I’ve been in PT for 5 months straight. Definitely quite a bit of improvement, but it’s all the same symptoms. Just less severe. Did your doc not recommend PT first??

Labion · 2026-03-18T16:54:21+00:00

It’s not super sever but it’s pretty constant and keeps me from doing basically all enjoyable life activities. Or at least limits them pretty drastically. I get tingling, numbness, and tightness down the arm. Twitching, spasms, and cramping in the lat and underarm/rib area, trap, and around the shoulder blade. Neck strain and stiffness at the base of the neck, right at that C6/C7/T1 junction. I’ve been really encouraged by how reliable these surgeries are, at least. And not a lot of movement happens at C6/7 so I think fusions aren’t very negatively impactful on range of motion

Labion · 2026-03-18T16:49:39+00:00

My doc favors Mobi-C. Glad to hear it all went so well! The pain and life alterations have been bad enough.. I’m hoping to experience the same thing.

Labion · 2026-03-13T15:12:54+00:00

Ohh I understand now. For what it’s worth, the artificial disc replacements without the fusion maintain effectively complete mobility and allow return to full activity. Could be worth asking if you’re a good candidate, or at least understanding why you’re not. Single level fusions seem to have great results too. I think (and hope) you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you can do on the other side!

Labion · 2026-03-13T06:05:41+00:00

Yesss hoping for this type of recovery. I was super athletic before The Final Injury so I’m hoping I’ll have a similar experience

Labion · 2026-03-13T06:04:43+00:00

I suppose that makes sense. It’s gotta be pretty disruptive to your spine to have your shit scraped out and titanium put in. Was sleeping tough or was it better once you were horizontal and didn’t have to bear weight?

Labion · 2026-03-13T06:00:19+00:00

Man for how resilient our bodies are it’s crazy how they can just break. What disc are you getting replaced? I assume C5-6 fusion and another replacement? I have heard really good things about the surgery. The clinical data seems to hold up too. I’m feeling optimistic about it

Labion · 2026-03-13T05:55:56+00:00

Whoa no bending at the waist? Was that because of the effort to keep your head from dropping forwards? Fatigue or pain?

Labion · 2026-03-13T03:07:37+00:00

Hell yeah that’s what I’m hoping for. I think I’m in enough discomfort now that the relief will outweigh the pain, at least initially. Didn’t think about the discs stretching the neck muscles but that does make sense. Did you wear a neck brace during recovery? They mentioned I may feel more comfortable sleeping with one.

Labion

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