Hwang Woo-Suk Participate in Cloning Research With Harvard Team
Related News: Stem Cell Research, Stem Cells and DiabetesIn Korea, well known Seoul National University professor and stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk is planing to start a stem cell research project focusing on diabetes with a Harvard University team.
"After concluding a contract in July or August, the Harvard University team will invite us this autumn. We look to study diabetes and other diseases together," the 52-year-old said.
The Harvard team is likely to be led by Dr. Douglas Melton, a father of two children with diabetes, who has been working on finding a cure to the confounding disease.
Hwang’s recent breakthrough of creating customized stem cells by cloning a patient’s DNA is expected to allow Melton’s team to grow cells that can be transplanted into diabetics without fear of rejection.
However, experts point out Hwang should develop the technique for growing specific cells from the stem cell lines in order to start the joint research.
"We believe diabetes can be cured through cell replacement therapy and to do that, we should know how to differentiate stem cells into a specific cell. I am not sure whether Hwang’s team has the know-how," said Park Se-pill, a researcher at Seoul-based Maria Biotech. And doctors think that replacing Langerhans islets can cure diabetes.
Hwang already established a global partnership with such scientists as Ian Wilmut, who cloned the first mammal, a sheep named Dolly, in 1996.
Hwang looks to embark on joint research with the Scottish embryologist on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease causing serious muscle atrophy known as Lou Gehrig’s, later this year.
Posted on June 3, 2005 08:27 PM