
Cloning scientist denies faking research Financial Times \|\| December 18, 2005 Related - S Korea stem cell success 'faked' Hwang Woo-suk, South Korea’s most renowned stem cell scientist, on Friday strongly denied claims made by one of his close collaborators that he fabricated parts of his pioneering research on cloning human embryos. Speaking to a televised news conference, Prof Hwang reaffirmed that his research team created 11 cloned embryonic stem cell lines, which could potentially be used to grow patient-specific cells for sufferers of diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. “We made tailor-made stem cells and have the fundamental technology,” said Prof Hwang. He had proof his team had made the stem cells this year, he said, and promised to produce the evidence soon. “We are now in the process of thawing and growing the frozen stem cells. We will be able to verify their existence in about 10 days,” Prof Hwang said. “Our six research members made 11 stem cells and all confirmed this. We six researchers have no doubt.” He said the stem cells had been badly contaminated in a laboratory accident and died. The five stem cells being thawed were from early stages of the team’s research. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com However, Prof Hwang said he planned to voluntarily retract his acclaimed research, published in the journal Science in May, after getting consent from his co-authors, because a critical mistake was made with some pictures published in the article. Roh Sung-il, head of the Mizmedi infertility clinic that provided the human ova for Prof Hwang’s research and one of the co-authors, repeated his claims on Friday that the Seoul National University scientist had put pressure on a former researcher to fake data to make it look like there were 11 stem cell colonies. Mr Roh said nine of the 11 stem cell lines were fake and the veracity of the other two was questionable. His revelations have cast further doubt on the credibility of Prof Hwang’s work, which includes the cloning of a cow and dog. Concerns about ethics and scientific rigour in his lab surfaced last month. Since then Prof Hwang has been treated for stress. The fracas has plunged South Korea into a deep national depression, as it becomes increasingly likely that something was amiss in the research, which has been celebrated as an example of Korea’s technological prowess. Seoul National University said it would investigate the research. Last month Dr Gerald Schatten of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center severed ties with Prof Hwang, citing ethical concerns. The Korean scientist apologised after conceding that, contrary to his earlier denials, two junior researchers had donated their eggs for his work - a violation of international ethics guidelines. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
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Cloning scientist denies faking research

Financial Times || December 18, 2005

Related - S Korea stem cell success 'faked'

Hwang Woo-suk, South Korea’s most renowned stem cell scientist, on Friday strongly denied claims made by one of his close collaborators that he fabricated parts of his pioneering research on cloning human embryos.

Speaking to a televised news conference, Prof Hwang reaffirmed that his research team created 11 cloned embryonic stem cell lines, which could potentially be used to grow patient-specific cells for sufferers of diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

“We made tailor-made stem cells and have the fundamental technology,” said Prof Hwang.

He had proof his team had made the stem cells this year, he said, and promised to produce the evidence soon.

“We are now in the process of thawing and growing the frozen stem cells. We will be able to verify their existence in about 10 days,” Prof Hwang said. “Our six research members made 11 stem cells and all confirmed this. We six researchers have no doubt.”

He said the stem cells had been badly contaminated in a laboratory accident and died.

The five stem cells being thawed were from early stages of the team’s research.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

However, Prof Hwang said he planned to voluntarily retract his acclaimed research, published in the journal Science in May, after getting consent from his co-authors, because a critical mistake was made with some pictures published in the article.

Roh Sung-il, head of the Mizmedi infertility clinic that provided the human ova for Prof Hwang’s research and one of the co-authors, repeated his claims on Friday that the Seoul National University scientist had put pressure on a former researcher to fake data to make it look like there were 11 stem cell colonies.

Mr Roh said nine of the 11 stem cell lines were fake and the veracity of the other two was questionable.

His revelations have cast further doubt on the credibility of Prof Hwang’s work, which includes the cloning of a cow and dog. Concerns about ethics and scientific rigour in his lab surfaced last month. Since then Prof Hwang has been treated for stress.

The fracas has plunged South Korea into a deep national depression, as it becomes increasingly likely that something was amiss in the research, which has been celebrated as an example of Korea’s technological prowess.

Seoul National University said it would investigate the research.

Last month Dr Gerald Schatten of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center severed ties with Prof Hwang, citing ethical concerns. The Korean scientist apologised after conceding that, contrary to his earlier denials, two junior researchers had donated their eggs for his work - a violation of international ethics guidelines.

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