Science Awaiting Details On Request To Retract Stem Cell Paper

Donald Kennedy, Science editor in chief, said Friday that the journal is closely monitoring a controversy that has emerged over a landmark May 2005 embryonic stem cell paper. The journal has received a request for retraction from the lead authors, Woo Suk Hwang and Gerald Schatten, but Science is withholding action on that request until all 25 co-authors sign off on the request, Kennedy told reporters in a telephonic news conference.

The study, first published in May, said Hwang’s South Korean lab created 11 stem cell lines from adult skin tissue. In doing so, Hwang and his colleagues were apparently the first in the world to create embryonic stem cells matched to a patient's DNA. Researchers have hoped that someday such work will allow advanced treatments on diabetes, spinal cord injuries and other medical problems.

The work has been troubled in recent weeks by allegations from Schatten and others of ethical and scientific breaches in Hwang’s lab. Kennedy said Science editors are closely monitoring investigations underway into the allegations, but currently lack detailed information on the reported problems.

The paper under scrutiny is "Patient-Specific Embryonic Stem Cells Derived from Human SCNT Blastocysts," 19 May 2005, Science Express; 17 June 2005, Science. Kennedy said a second important paper by Hwang's group — "Evidence of a Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cell Line Derived from a Cloned Blastocyst," 12 February 2004, Science Express; 12 March 2004, Science — may also come under review as more is learned from the investigations now underway.

To hear a recording of the full telephonic press conference with Kennedy and Science Deputy Editor Katrina Kelner, click here. Science has issued a formal statement on the current controversy. The most recent version of the statement as well as updates can be found here.

Edward W. Lempinen

16 December 2005