|
Seoul National University on Friday appointed a nine-member panel tasked with scrutinizing the results of stem cell research by embattled cloning pioneer Hwang Woo-suk. Chung Myung-hee, a medical professor and former SNU vice president, will head the panel.
Roe Jung-hye, the head of the school¡¯s Research Affairs Office, told reporters the panel consists of seven SNU faculty members and two outside experts. Of the seven insiders, six come from the molecular and cellular biology departments, and one from the humanities. A DNA molecular biologist and an embryonic stem cell expert were brought in from outside at the recommendation of the Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology. SNU is keeping their names confidential.
Roe said investigation results could come out in one or two weeks if Hwang¡¯s team willingly hands over all research materials. The panel will conduct a preliminary investigation through written questionnaires and interviews, and then move on to the main inquiry. However, the order and schedule of the investigation may change as MizMedi Hospital administrator Roh Sung-il, a co-researcher of Hwang, has raised doubts whether stem cells Hwang claims to have cloned exist at all.
Roe hinted at the possibility of cooperation with a similar fact-finding panel at the University of Pittsburgh, where Hwang¡¯s former collaborator Prof. Gerald Schatten is tenured. He quoted the journal Science as saying cooperation with Pittsburgh was crucial.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
