PITTSBURGH, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A University of Pittsburgh researcher on embryonic stem cells is withdrawing from a South Korean-led project, claiming there were ethical breaches.
For more than a year, Gerald Schatten has worked with Woo Suk Hwang of Seoul National University. In 2004, Hwang soared to prominence when he and colleagues became the first to grow human embryonic stem cells from cloned human embryos.
However, rumors swirled that the eggs Hwang used to achieve the feat had been taken from a junior scientist in his lab. If true, that would be in violation of ethics principles that preclude people in positions of authority from accepting egg donations from underlings.
Hwang has repeatedly denied the allegations, but Schatten told The Washington Post he wants no further role in the research.
"I now have information that leads me to believe he had misled me," Schatten said. "My trust has been shaken. I am sick at heart."
Human embryonic stem cells can become any kind of human tissue and are highly coveted for their potential to treat a variety of diseases. They had previously been harvested only from conventional human embryos.
