Check the publisher's update record for the DOI and any retraction notice, then read the notice to see whether the specific claim you cite is affected; this gives you a verified status and a decision to replace or annotate the grant text. Crossref's Crossmark service provides a publisher-maintained record for updates such as corrections and retractions, so start there. Follow these steps:
- Locate the DOI of the paper and open its Crossref record (often via doi.org). Look for a Crossmark indicator or update notice. If an update exists, the record will link to it. If no update appears, the record is unresolved; proceed to step 2.
- Search the publisher's website for the article page and any linked retraction or correction notice. Publishers typically post notices alongside the article. If a notice is found, read it fully.
- Read the notice to determine the reason and scope. COPE guidelines describe retraction as a mechanism to correct the literature when findings are unreliable, and notices should state the basis. Check whether the notice retracts the entire paper or only specific findings, and whether your cited claim is among those affected.
- If the claim is affected, replace the citation with a reliable source that supports the same point, or annotate the text to acknowledge the retraction and explain why the claim is still relevant (if appropriate). ICMJE recommendations advise authors to verify references against original sources and to identify retractions.
- If no notice is found, document your search (date, sources checked) and consider citing the paper with a note that no retraction was found as of that date. This maintains transparency.
For grants, the decision to replace or annotate depends on whether the retraction undermines the specific claim. If the claim is central and the retraction invalidates it, replace the citation and revise the text. If the claim is peripheral or the retraction concerns other aspects, an annotation may suffice. Always follow your funder's guidelines on citing retracted work.