Prominent Chinese biologist accuses top cancer journal's editor-in-chief of soliciting bribes

Cell Press has commissioned an independent third party to investigate after prominent Chinese biologist Rao Yi accused the editor-in-chief of its journal Cancer Cell of soliciting bribes from Chinese authors.

Rao, a tenured chair professor at Peking University and former president of Capital Medical University, singled out Steve Mao, the journal's Chinese-born editor-in-chief, in a social media post on Oct. 13, the South China Morning Post reported.

"Several important international academic journals have seen editors, and even editors-in-chief, soliciting and accepting bribes," Rao wrote. "Chinese scientists should collectively boycott such editors."

"Organizations and various assessment bodies in China should be aware that many people believe Steve Mao has serious issues," he said, alleging that "a considerable number of journals and individuals are implicated."

Elsevier-owned Cell Press said in a statement on one of its official social media accounts on the evening of Oct. 16 that it had "initiated the relevant procedures and commissioned an external, independent third party to conduct a comprehensive investigation."

"While the investigation is ongoing, we will not be making any further comment on this matter," it said.

Earlier, on Oct. 14, a Cell Press spokesperson told Chinese magazine China Newsweek that the publisher took the integrity of its editorial process very seriously, was reviewing the matter under established procedures and was contacting Rao to request any supporting evidence he might have.

The publisher also told the magazine that it and Elsevier upheld rigorous, independent peer review and that editorial decisions were based solely on scientific merit.

In an Oct. 12 post, Rao said he had heard from Chinese scientists that "some editors at international academic journals demand personal financial payments in exchange for helping Chinese researchers publish their papers."

Citing a source he did not name, Rao alleged that an editor had given a clinician a quote for publishing a manuscript: "an initial payment of 2 million yuan" ($299,000), "with more [fees] potentially required later."

Rao also published an email he sent to the editor, which read: "Multiple sources have mentioned you as an example of an editor who has requested personal payment for publishing with journals you have served as an editor."

The editor rejected the allegations, according to Rao's post. "This is completely false and baseless. I demand you immediately retract this false statement. I have preserved all evidence and reserve all rights. I will not engage in further debate here," the reply said.

Chinese biologist Rao Yi uses a pipette in a laboratory. Photo courtesy of Rao Yi

In his Oct. 13 post, Rao identified the editor in that exchange as Mao and called on Chinese scientists to boycott Cancer Cell until Mao resigns or is dismissed, Malaysian Chinese-language daily Kwong Wah Yit Poh reported.

Mao had been due to attend an oncology conference co-hosted by Cell Press and Westlake University in Hangzhou on Nov. 6-8 but has recently been replaced by a colleague, according to Chinese media. The conference website no longer lists Mao and says its organizational arrangements "have been updated."

Mao graduated from Peking University and earned a PhD in cell biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, then did postdoctoral research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Harvard University before working as a senior editor at Cell and Science.

He has led Cancer Cell, one of the top journals in oncology with an impact factor of 56.1, since 2020, and has been Cell Press's director of editorial and strategic initiatives for China and the Asia-Pacific region since August 2025.

Mao also became a publishing director at Cell Press in 2022, China Newsweek reported. A 2024 Cell Press biography said that role covered eight life and medical science journals, including Cell Metabolism, Immunity, Molecular Cell and Neuron.

A veteran Chinese professional in international academic publishing told the SCMP, on condition of anonymity, that spending hundreds of thousands or even millions of yuan to improve the odds of publication was a "tacitly understood" practice, particularly at top medical journals, though he gave no details of any confirmed case.

"It is essentially an investment," he said, adding that once a paper appears in a top journal, "all sorts of academic titles, resources and research grants follow."

Several people interviewed by China Newsweek said they had never heard of editors soliciting payments from authors. Ian Tannock, an emeritus professor of medical oncology at the University of Toronto and Princess Margaret Cancer Center, told the magazine that if the allegations against Cancer Cell's editor were proven, the person would lose the post and would likely face legal action.