Research misconduct applies to all stages of research, including proposing, performing, and reviewing research, and reporting research results.
Image integrity issues are a growing concern in both the academic and scientific research and even when unintentional, can have significant consequences for a researcher's work and reputation.
To help safeguard research, Ohio State provides an enterprise license to Proofig AI at no cost to all individuals on campus to maintain the highest standards of scientific integrity.
Proofig AI
Proofig AI image integrity software analyzes research figures automatically and flags potential image integrity issues. These include:
- Duplicated or reused images within the same manuscript
- Manipulated sub-images (e.g., cloning, deletion, splicing)
- Reuse of images from published literature (plagiarism)
- AI-generated images that may compromise authenticity
- Western blot manipulation (e.g., band splicing, deletions)
Proofig AI does not identify fabrication or falsification of visual data, nor does it identify research misconduct. The software does flag potential image integrity issues that require a person to review for final determination of appropriate next steps.
All analyses performed by Proofig AI are secure and confidential. Uploaded data are used solely for integrity checking and never shared or reused for training the system – even among Ohio State users.
How can I access Proofig AI?
Log in to Proofig AI using your Ohio State credentials. The system is configured to sync with any changes to your account.
Additional Information
Upload guidelines
- File type: primarily supports PDF files
- Maximum file size: Up to 50MB
- Page limit: 100 pages
- Sub-image limit: Up to 500 sub-images per manuscript
- Image uploads: can also be uploead You can also upload image files (e.g., JPEG, PNG), which Proofig will automatically convert to PDF for analysis.
For questions regarding the misconduct policy, or issues pertaining to misconduct in science or scholarly activities contact: