1. Woo-suk’s Stem Cells
Evan Perez, Ann Peterson, Stephen Ratvasky, Lauren Shober, Jarred Stratton

2. 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

3. Background Information
Accused of scientific misconduct
Investigation launched by Seoul National University
Focused on 2004 and 2005 Science Publications
Results of investigation

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Donor Safety Willing hosts not informed of possible side-effects Why?
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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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
----- Meeting Notes (6/17/13 13:20) -----
too in third line

15. 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

16. References
Hwang, Woo Suk, et al. "Evidence of a Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cell Line Derived from a Cloned Blastocyst." Science (2004): Web.
Hwang, Woo Suk, et al. "Patient-Specific Embryonic Stem Cells Derived from Human SCNT Blastocysts." Science (2005): Web.
"Text of the Report on Dr. Hwang Woo Suk." 2006.Web. 13 June 2013 <
Raiciu, Tudor. "Scientific Scandal in South Korea." 2005.Web. <
"Disgraced Korean Cloning Scientist Indicted". New York Times. May 12, 2006.

17. Questions