Woo-suk’s Stem Cells
Evan Perez, Ann Peterson, Stephen Ratvasky,
Lauren Shober, Jarred Stratton
http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/photo
s/uncategorized/150pxhwangwoo.jpg
http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/ap/sel10412160303.grid-6x2.jpg
Background Information
• Hwang Woo-suk
– PI at Seoul National
University
– Successfully cloned dog,
showing techniques had
validity
– Major funding from South
Korean government
• Major paper published in
Science in 2005
– Embryonic cell lines from
human blastocysts
– Great advance in
treatment possibility
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10826359/ns/healthcloning_and_stem_cells/t/journal-retracts-disgraced-stem-cellpapers/#.Ub5WN_aY70s
Background Information
• Accused of scientific
misconduct
• Investigation launched
by Seoul National
University
– Focused on 2004 and
2005 Science
Publications
– Results of investigation
http://www.uni.edu/studyabroad/sites/default/files/Seoul%20Nationa
l%20University.
Ethical Concerns
• Use of Embryonic Stem Cells
• Use of Cells from a fellow researcher/donors
not told of possible dangers of procedure
• Falsification of data
http://www.acfe.com/ethics-and-compliance.aspx
Use of Embryonic Stem Cells
• Highly contested topic
– Harvest of cells from living
fetus causes termination
• Some people believe that
terminating the life of a fetus
is immoral
• Why not use stem cells from
adults?
– Fetal Stem Cells have a higher
potency than adult stem cells
• Can differentiate into a
broader range of cells –
seemingly more possibility for
use in regenerative medicine
http://danabush15.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/stem-cell.jpg
Use of Researcher’s Ova
• Research was done on ova (eggs) from
members of the research group
– Claimed unpaid; actually paid
• Coercion
• Paper claimed 185 ova, laboratory notes
showed 273
Donor Safety
• Willing hosts not informed of possible sideeffects
– Some women had problems after the procedure
• Why?
– Lack of resources
– “’We needed a lot of ova for the research but
there were not enough ova around’” – Woo-suk
Falsification of Data
• Made claims that he had
no data to support
– Claimed multiple cell lines;
only one
– Photographs of same cell
line, passed off as multiple
– Fabricated DNA
fingerprinting data
• Lying, in itself, is immoral
– Used this data to apply for
grants
• Wrongfully won this money
- embezzlement
Woo-Suk, et al. Science. 17 June 2005.
Consequences of Misconduct
• February 9, 2006
– Hwang is suspended
from research within the
university without pay
• March 20, 2006
– Hwang is relieved of his
professor position at
Seoul National University
• South Korea prevented
Woo-Suk from resigning
for investigative
purposes
http://www.solarnavigator.net/images/human_clone_pi
oneer_hwang_woo_suk_genius_time_magazine_cyber
_wars.jpg
Consequences of Misconduct
• May 12, 2006
– Woo-Suk indicted on charges of fraud,
embezzlement, and (the most important)
bioethical violation
– Took 2.8 billion won ($3 million) for illegal ova and
personal use
• Serious crimes not only in ethics but are very
serious felonies in the court of law
Consequences of Misconduct
• Woo-Suk sentenced to
two years (suspended)
prison term
– October 26, 2009
• 6 months of term was
removed from an appeals
court in South Korea
• Embezzlement and
bioethical misconduct
• Fraud was dropped from
the charges
http://www.northlandchurch.net/_pdf/homework/jail_photo.jpg
Recommendations:
Actions that should have been taken
•
•
•
•
Informed consent
Schatten should have had been involved
Closer peer review
Researchers should have reported ethical
breaches
• Greater governmental supervision
Prevention:
How we can stop Fraudulent Research
• Proper reporting of potential fraudulence and
data falsification
• Ensure accuracy of coauthors data
• Increased skepticism when evaluating
groundbreaking research
• Mandatory informed consent
– Barring of donation by researchers
Lessons Learned:
Where to go from here
• Increased attention to ethics and validity of data
• Ability of scientists to police self
– Importance of whistleblowers
• Ambition can go too far
• Importance of honesty
Conclusions
• Woo-suk committed multiple ethical breaches
• Punished for these breaches
• Actions by others could have prevented
breaches from occurring
• Many ways we can prevent these type of
breaches
• Important lessons can be drawn from this case
References
• Hwang, Woo Suk, et al. "Evidence of a Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem
Cell Line Derived from a Cloned Blastocyst." Science 303.5664 (2004):
1669-74. Web.
• Hwang, Woo Suk, et al. "Patient-Specific Embryonic Stem Cells Derived
from Human SCNT Blastocysts." Science 308.5729 (2005): 1777-83. Web.
• "Text of the Report on Dr. Hwang Woo Suk." 2006.Web. 13 June 2013
<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/09/science/textclonereport.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>.
• Raiciu, Tudor. "Scientific Scandal in South Korea." 2005.Web.
<http://news.softpedia.com/news/Scientific-Scandal-in-South-Korea15020.shtml>.
• "Disgraced Korean Cloning Scientist Indicted". New York Times. May 12,
2006.
Questions
http://ncncs.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/ethics.jpg