Universal compliance can be achieved if organizations that dispense grant funds and journals that publish research outcomes would adopt a zero tolerance policy with respect to the award of grants and acceptance of manuscripts to be published. No cell line authentication, no grant; no cell line authentication, no access to journals as publication outlets.
In retrospect, I did not expect that a very hard sell would be necessary to elicit more than token verbal support.
The large number of publications based on misidentified
or cross-contaminated cell lines was clear testimony that the cell culture community needed to make significant progress. A zero tolerance policy would, relatively, neither intrude nor drain resources. Such a policy would also harmonize with the missions of granting agencies, journals, and professional societies—all of them run by intelligent, dedicated, hard-working people.