Sep 25, 2025
MDPI has signed a multi-year deal with Proofig AI to strengthen image integrity checks in its biomedical journals. Following a successful pilot, Proofig AI’s technology will be integrated into editorial workflows to detect duplications, manipulations, plagiarism, and AI-generated images. The collaboration aims to reduce post-publication corrections, streamline editorial review, and reinforce MDPI’s commitment to research integrity.
Leading open-access publisher MDPI has announced a multi-year collaboration with Proofig AI, an advanced provider of AI-driven image integrity solutions for scientific publications. The partnership follows a successful pilot program that significantly improved the detection of problematic figures and streamlined editorial review processes.
The rollout will begin across selected biomedical journals and is expected to expand to additional titles in the near future, as part of MDPI’s ongoing commitment to upholding research quality and transparency.
Enhancing Research Integrity Through AI
The pilot program demonstrated how Proofig AI’s image analysis tools could efficiently identify manipulated, duplicated, or reused figures before publication. These automated checks now form a key part of MDPI’s editorial workflow, ensuring that editors can focus more on scientific evaluation while minimizing the need for manual screening.
According to Dr. Dror Kolodkin-Gal, co-founder and CEO of Proofig AI:
“We are proud that MDPI has chosen to collaborate with us and to see such a fruitful partnership taking shape. The MDPI team conducted a highly professional and carefully monitored pilot, achieving excellent results in detecting problematic images. Their fast and effective integration process was impressive, and we are excited to contribute to this important collaboration. By combining Proofig AI’s advanced technology with MDPI’s editorial expertise, we can help prevent errors and maintain integrity in science, while setting a new benchmark for research integrity and quality control in publishing.”
Detecting Manipulation, Duplication, and AI-Generated Images
Proofig AI’s system automatically flags potential image integrity issues for editorial review, including signs of:
Image manipulation or alteration
Figure duplication and reuse
Image plagiarism from external sources such as PubMed
Undisclosed AI-generated content
The platform also includes specialized tools for detecting inconsistencies in western blot and microscopy images — areas often prone to manipulation and challenging to assess manually.
During the pilot, Proofig AI successfully identified several instances of duplicated histology and confocal microscopy images, even when subtle edits were made to disguise similarities. MDPI reported that the integration of the system has already led to a decline in post-publication corrections related to image manipulation.
Commitment to Scientific Integrity
Tim Tait-Jamieson, Head of Publication Ethics at MDPI, emphasized that maintaining image integrity is vital for the credibility of scientific publishing:
“The life sciences are disproportionately affected by research integrity issues, making vigilance in this field especially critical. This is driven, in part, by the increasing sophistication of image editing software and generative AI. Whether accidental or deliberate, image manipulation can have a lasting impact on the credibility of published research. By integrating Proofig AI into our editorial workflows, we strengthen our ability to detect scientific misconduct early and reduce post-publication amendments.”
Positive Results and Future Expansion
MDPI’s internal evaluations highlighted Proofig AI’s accuracy, user-friendly design, and ease of integration. According to Sanita Meijere, IT Product and Project Manager at MDPI:
“For more than a year, we’ve tested all the available image manipulation detection tools. Proofig AI’s quality and ease of use, alongside positive feedback from our internal users, made their software a clear stand-out. We’re thrilled to be moving forward with this partnership, ensuring we do our utmost to protect MDPI’s biomedical journals. Using this advanced image proofing software reaffirms MDPI’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards in research integrity.”
With the successful pilot completed, MDPI plans to expand Proofig AI’s use across all applicable scientific journals, further embedding automated image screening into its editorial standards.
A Shared Vision for Reliable Science
This collaboration between MDPI and Proofig AI underscores a shared commitment to research integrity and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in scholarly publishing. Together, they aim to reduce the occurrence of errors, prevent scientific misconduct, and set new benchmarks for ethical publishing practices worldwide.