Panel set to investigate Pitt stem cell researcher

A Pitt researcher is under investigation by the University for his role in research that… A Pitt researcher is under investigation by the University for his role in research that involved faked stem cells.

Dr. Gerald Schatten collaborated with Seoul National University researcher Dr. Woo-Suk Hwang to clone human embryos.

Hwang’s team reported their success cloning human embryos and creating stem cell lines in May 2005 in the journal Science. Schatten co-authored the paper.

Stem cells are unspecialized cells. A stem cell line is a group of cells that constantly divide.

Successful cloning of stem cells would offer the scientific community the means for possibly curing various diseases and disabilities.

According to a report in University Times, Schatten withdrew from the South Korean research team in November amid accusations of questionable ethics regarding human egg collection and compensation.

Hwang admitted that human eggs used in his research had been donated by junior members of his research team, according to CNN.com.

Soon after Schatten’s departure, Hwang’s research faced scrutiny from scientific journals and Seoul National.

Hwang’s peers at the university accused him of manipulating his stem cell lines. Both Hwang and Schatten are facing investigation by their respective universities.

The Post-Gazette reported on Dec. 30 that Hwang resigned after Seoul National confirmed that he had faked all 11 stem cell lines.

Schatten and Hwang requested that Science retract their paper, however all 25 co-authors must make a similar request for a retraction to be made, according to the Post-Gazette. Because of the severity of the situation, Science editors will move forward with the retraction if the other co-authors do not request retraction.

Hwang’s manipulated results have tainted other projects.

Schatten also worked with the Seoul National team to develop a procedure for cloning dogs. While other animals cloned with relative ease, the complex reproductive system of dogs makes the cloning process more difficult.

An Afghan hound puppy nicknamed Snuppy – Seoul National University Puppy – was born April 24.

The validity of Hwang’s cloning project is under investigation as well.

The South Korean team announced its cloning success in the August 2005 Nature.

Schatten’s role in the research was limited to “data analysis and manuscript preparation and did not directly involve research with human subjects,” according to University Times.

Hwang conducted the research with his team at Seoul National.

What remains to be determined is Schatten’s responsibility as a co-author of Hwang’s research.

In an interview with the Post-Gazette, Dr. Authur Caplan, director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, explained the dynamics of co-authorship.

“It’s possible to be fooled or deceived by a fellow co-author. Just because you analyze data in good faith doesn’t mean you have to double-check every claim,” Caplan said.

The two articles co-authored by Schatten are being reviewed by a panel headed by Research Integrity Officer Jerome L. Rosenberg.

“We have a committee of six faculty researchers who are looking at the matter and they interview witnesses and look at written records surrounding the publications,” Rosenberg told The Pitt News.

The panel is charged with making judgments regarding research misconduct and other research misdeeds that fall short of outright misconduct.

“Every case is unique. This one is special because the main publication in question had promises of breakthrough treatment of a number of diseases and disabilities,” Rosenberg added.

The panel had hoped to report its findings by the end of January to Arthur Levine, senior vice chancellor of health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine.

Rosenberg said that the panel will now be working into February.

UPMC Spokeswoman Jane Duffield said that no comment would be available until the panel concluded its investigation.

Schatten could not be reached for comment.