Ellie Kincaid is an editor at Retraction Watch. Her work has appeared in STAT, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, WebMD and Medscape. She has a B.A. in English from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.A. in journalism from New York University’s Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program.
Ellie Kincaid
Editor
Retraction Watch
From this contributor
Former Columbia University psychiatrist committed research misconduct, says federal watchdog
Bret Rutherford, whose research was halted following a suicide in a clinical trial, falsely reported participant eligibility, according to the U.S. Office of Research Integrity.
Former Columbia University psychiatrist committed research misconduct, says federal watchdog
By
Brendan Borrell, Ellie Kincaid
8 October 2024 | 3 min read
Head of company that accredits autism service providers resigns after article retraction
The resignation follows reporting by Spectrum and Retraction Watch in October about nonexistent references in the retracted article.
Head of company that accredits autism service providers resigns after article retraction
By
Ellie Kincaid
29 November 2023 | 4 min read
Article defending private-equity involvement in autism services retracted
Nearly two-thirds of the article’s references appear to not exist.
Article defending private-equity involvement in autism services retracted
By
Ellie Kincaid, Retraction Watch
19 October 2023 | 5 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
The genome offers a recipe, not a blueprint, for the brain
During brain development, genes set the rules and turn the knobs; self-organization does much of the rest.
The genome offers a recipe, not a blueprint, for the brain
During brain development, genes set the rules and turn the knobs; self-organization does much of the rest.
By
Ila Fiete
2 November 2026 | 8 min read
Autism research involving monkeys contends with uphill battle
Macaques and marmosets recapitulate the condition’s core traits better than mice can, but funding uncertainty and challenges at primate centers in the United States could make this work difficult to continue.
Autism research involving monkeys contends with uphill battle
Macaques and marmosets recapitulate the condition’s core traits better than mice can, but funding uncertainty and challenges at primate centers in the United States could make this work difficult to continue.
By
Diana Kwon
2 November 2026 | 8 min read
When is self-organization a mechanism in brain development?
Retinal waves offer a powerful example of a self-organizing system that can build structure without external guidance. The field would do well to embrace such phenomena more broadly as a type of mechanistic explanation.
When is self-organization a mechanism in brain development?
Retinal waves offer a powerful example of a self-organizing system that can build structure without external guidance. The field would do well to embrace such phenomena more broadly as a type of mechanistic explanation.
By
P. Robin Hiesinger
2 November 2026 | 6 min read