Prof. Hwang Woo-suk of Seoul National University, currently in London, is obviously pleased. "The stem cell researchers who've looked at the results are unable to suppress their excitement,¡± he says. ¡°Scientists who screened the article I submitted to the journal Science are calling it a 'stem cell tsunami.'" But in a telephone interview with the Chosun Ilbo on Thursday, Hwang also urged caution.
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Prof. Hwang Woo-suk and his team¡¯s adviser Prof. Gerald Schatten of the University of Pittsburgh announce their success in cloning stem cells that match patients¡¯ genetic information in London on Friday.
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- You've managed to come up with outstanding research results in the short time since you restarted embryonic cloning in October.
"That's because I completed all the preparations before starting. Because we'd built up a lot of experience through prior research, we were able to reduce the amount of trial and error."
- When did Science decide to run your thesis?
"I was informed right before leaving for the U.S. on May 14."
- How did you select the patients who provided the skin cells?
"We selected them from patients at Seoul National University and Hanyang University hospitals. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) also made sure the donors understood that the stem cells created in this round of research would not be used in their treatment. In the case of underage patients, we told their parents."
- Were all the patients Korean?
"There was also a foreign woman. She lives abroad."
- The Biological Ethics and Safety Law went into effect this year. Doesn't the law target this research? Are there no ethical problems?
"When we started cloning experiments, we got permission from the Hanyang University Medical College IRB, and with the law going into effect, we got simultaneous approval from the government and Seoul National University College of Veterinary Medicine. We also went through an ethical review by a University of Pittsburgh team because one of its researchers took part in the project."
- How will you conduct follow-up research?
¡±This time, at a basic level, we have confirmed that stem cells can divide into several cells. At a practical level, we are researching how to differentiate stem cells into the various cells of the human body. But we are not at a stage where we can discuss our results. 'No comment.'"
- Who would you like to credit?
"I want to thank all the students and researchers who participated in the project. I also want to thank all those who encouraged us. In addition, I want to caution patients against getting their hopes up too high over these research results. I hope they wait for our follow-up research with cool, composed hearts."
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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