S. Korea Stem Cell Pioneer Resigns Posts Over Human Donor Furor

Hwang Woo Suk, a South Korean researcher credited with making the first embryonic stem cells genetically matched to living adults, resigned all his official positions after admitting that he'd used eggs from paid donors and women in his research team.

Hwang, a researcher at Seoul National University, said he found out two assistants had donated eggs for his groundbreaking project late last year and didn't disclose the information. Hwang also said the head of a hospital who supplied eggs for the project told him last month that some donors had been paid.

``After serious consideration, I finally chose to protect my researcher's privacy,'' Hwang told a press conference at the university. ``I could have been wiser.''

Hwang's admission may hamper global collaboration based on his research, which has been heralded as a critical step in jump-starting treatment for Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and spinal cord injuries. A U.S. scientist ended his collaboration with Hwang last week over claims that human eggs used to grow cells were unethically obtained.

``I sincerely apologize for having stirred concern and home and abroad,'' Hwang said...