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The image of stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk on magazines in a bookstore in Seoul (South Korea) on December 22 |
Renowned South Korean stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk has been reported to have fabricated results for at least 9 out of the 11 stem cell lines he claimed to have created.
The National University of Seoul, where he is employed, announced this finding yesterday (December 23).
This is the first confirmation from the university regarding allegations that Professor Hwang Woo-suk’s stem cell research has been falsified.
In a paper published in May in the journal Science, Professor Hwang claimed to have created 11 stem cell lines suitable for patients, a breakthrough that raised hopes for developing treatments for various terminal illnesses. However, a former collaborator from his research team revealed last week that 9 of the 11 stem cell lines were fabricated, prompting the journal and the university to reassess the situation and establish an investigative committee.
The investigation team reported finding “laboratory databases for the 11 stem cell lines reported in the May article, all of which used databases from two stem cells.”
The National University of Seoul stated that to produce these falsified DNA results, Professor Hwang’s team split stem cells from one patient into two test tubes for analysis, meaning that in reality, these cells originated from a single patient.
The investigation team indicated that DNA testing is currently underway to verify the findings. They also mentioned that they are looking into other studies by Professor Hwang, including a 2004 study published in Science on the world’s first cloned human embryo and an August 2005 article in Nature about the first cloned dog. Both journals are reviewing all of these studies.
Meanwhile, Professor Hwang maintains that his research is valid and that the test results will prove this.
However, last week he also acknowledged “fatal errors” in the May paper and requested that Science retract it. He admitted that at the time of the publication, his team had only managed to create 8 stem cell lines, but stated that three additional stem cell lines were created afterward.
The investigation team reported that they did not find any documentation for the two stem cell lines that Professor Hwang claimed to have created. Four other stem cell lines had died due to infection, and three additional lines are still in the cultivation stage and have not yet shown potential to become fully developed stem cells.
Currently, the investigation team at the University of Seoul has not taken any action against Professor Hwang in light of these findings.
TUONG VY
