Woo-suk’s Stem Cells

Evan Perez, Ann Peterson, Stephen Ratvasky, Lauren Shober, Jarred Stratton

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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

possibilityhttp://www.nbcnews.com/id/10826359/ns/health-cloning_and_stem_cells/t/journal-retracts-disgraced-stem-cell-papers/#.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%20National%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 side-effects– 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_pioneer_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

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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/text-clonereport.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>.

• Raiciu, Tudor. "Scientific Scandal in South Korea." 2005.Web. <http://news.softpedia.com/news/Scientific-Scandal-in-South-Korea-15020.shtml>.

• "Disgraced Korean Cloning Scientist Indicted". New York Times. May 12, 2006.

Questions

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