New Software from Proofig AI Enhances Image Integrity in Scientific Publishing

To assist publishers, academic institutions, and researchers in verifying image authenticity before submission, Dr. Dror Kolodkin-Gal, founder of Proofig AI, has introduced an advanced AI-driven image integrity screening tool. This automated system is designed to detect various types of image duplication and certain manipulations, enabling users to preemptively identify and resolve issues before submission, ultimately reducing the risk of retractions after publication.

Research by Morten P. Oksvold highlights that image duplication—whether accidental or intentional—is a significant concern, particularly in the life sciences, potentially affecting up to 25% of research articles. If an article containing duplicated or manipulated images is flagged post-publication, it can trigger investigations and possible retractions, leading to reputational harm for both the authors and publishers involved.

Drawing from two decades of research experience, Dr. Kolodkin-Gal established Proofiger Ltd., based in Rehovot, Israel. Combining expertise in scientific research, computer vision, and image processing, he and his technology team developed this state-of-the-art solution. Their innovative approach was recognized through Tnufa, a program from the Israel Innovation Authority supporting groundbreaking technological advancements.

Proofig's AI software extracts images from manuscripts, analyzing them for potential duplications. The system compares individual images against themselves and across the entire document, even detecting flipped images. This process, which would be highly time-consuming if done manually, is completed within minutes.

"Many cases of image duplication result from unintentional errors—misplaced files or mistakenly reused figures," explained Dr. Kolodkin-Gal. "While authors, editors, and publishers strive to catch such mistakes, human vision alone is not always sufficient. AI-powered tools work more efficiently and accurately, detecting issues related to size, position, orientation, overlaps, and partial duplications far more effectively than manual review."

Automating image verification allows publishers and research institutions to uphold integrity before peer review and publication, mitigating the risk of costly retractions and preserving reputations. Leading publishers, including the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), have already integrated Proofig AI into their review workflows.

Universities are also leveraging this technology to enhance research credibility. Professor Ofer Mandelboim, head of the Department of Immunology and Cancer Research at the Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine, emphasized the importance of such safeguards: "Even unintentional duplications can cause significant harm. Proofig provides my department with confidence that our manuscripts undergo thorough image verification before submission, ensuring accuracy and quality in our published work."

Proofig AI's automated software offers an efficient and cost-effective solution for both individual researchers and publishing houses, enabling rapid analysis of research papers while protecting scientific integrity.