Hwang Woo-suk, who with his researchers created the first patient-matched embryonic stem cell lines, has announced that he plans to open a stem cell bank in Korea. In an interview with the Associated Press [Kim. J., Washington Post, 1 June 2005], Hwang discussed his plans for a stem cell bank to consolidate access to existing stem cell lines. He envisages a bank where researchers from around the world could come to seek out stem cells that would match a patient in need, a process like that used to find organ transplants. He expects the bank to open as early as later this year; management of the bank would be given eventually to an international agency. The Korea Times reports [Kim, T. Korea Times, 25 May 2005] that the Korean government will be supporting Hwang with an increase in his research budget and a new research facility at Seoul National University.
Hwang and his colleagues announced their groundbreaking work creating genetically matched stem cell lines in May 2005 [see Hwang, W.S. et al, Science, 19 May 2005]. He and his team derived 11 stem cell lines that genetically matched the patients from whom skins cells used in the procedure were taken. The patients suffered from disease or spinal cord injury. Last year, Hwang and his colleagues announced they had cloned a human embryo [see PHGU newsletter item February 2004]. Now he plans to move to the next phase of his research plans. He told the Korea Times, “We already have some globally organised research teams. After concluding the worldwide framework this year, we will push for more progress. I hope to lower the curtain of the first act (of the stem cell play) by as early as next autumn.” The Associated Press reports that he next plans to move into growing specific tissues and organs from stem cells.
One international collaboration being planned is with Dr Douglas Melton at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in Harvard, Massachusetts, according to a Bloomberg report [2 June 2005]. Melton is seeking to use embryonic stem cells in treatments for diabetes. He has already isolated 17 stem cell lines from unneeded IVF embryos, using private funding. The Massachusetts legislature recently overrode a veto by the state’s governor of a state law that allows somatic cell nuclear transfer or therapeutic cloning, as long as the research has ethics approval and does not result in the cloning of a human being. This puts Massachusetts, according to Senator Edward Kennedy, “…at the forefront of science, innovation and discovery.” The report states that a link with Harvard might help with Hwang’s goal of creating the stem cell bank in Korea.