Ensuring research integrity is essential to maintaining the highest standards of academic publishing. To support Feinberg researchers in this effort, faculty and staff now have access to two powerful tools: Proofig and iThenticate available through Galter Library. These resources help researchers identify potential issues before manuscript submission, reducing the risk of delays, corrections, or retractions.

Journals and publishers are increasingly vigilant about research integrity concerns, including plagiarism, improper citation, and image duplication. Many manuscripts undergo rigorous checks, and undetected issues can result in submission rejections, retractions, or damage to a researcher’s reputation. By proactively using these tools, researchers can prevent unintentional errors, improve manuscript quality, and ensure compliance with publisher guidelines.

• Proofig helps detect image duplication and manipulation in scientific papers. It uses AI-powered analysis to identify potential issues in images, ensuring that all images meet the highest standards of transparency and accuracy. This versatile tool can analyze microscopy, Western blots, in-vivo and in-vitro images, among many others. 

• iThenticate is a plagiarism and AI detection tool that compares a manuscript against a vast database of academic literature. It helps researchers verify originality, check for inadvertent text similarity, and ensure proper citation practices.

We strongly encourage faculty to take the time to run their manuscripts through these tools before submitting to journals. Using Proofig and iThenticate can help researchers avoid unnecessary hurdles in the publication process and maintain the credibility of their work. Addressing potential concerns early on ensures smoother interactions with editors, reduces the risk of retractions, and upholds Feinberg’s commitment to research integrity.

• Proofig 
• iThenticate

For questions or assistance, please contact ghsl-ref@northwestern.edu.  

In the event that Proofig or iThenticate identifies an issue that cannot be classified as an honest error, cannot be appropriately corrected, has the potential of being research misconduct (falsification/fabrication/plagiarism), and/or if you are unsure, please contact the Office for Research Integrity at Northwestern who can help you navigate these issues, researchintegrity@northwestern.edu. 

By making these resources part of your research workflow, you can ensure a seamless, ethical, and efficient publication process. We appreciate your commitment to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity.