Lab says stem cell research falsified

01 April 2014| last updated at 06:00PM

The research from the Riken Center for Development Biology in Kobe, western Japan, had been hailed as a possible breakthrough for growing tissue to treat illnesses such as diabetes and Parkinsons disease using a simple lab procedure.

But significant discrepancies in research published in January in scientific journal Nature led a panel of scientists at Riken to conclude they stemmed from falsified data.

They said researcher Haruko Obokata, the lead author of the paper in Nature, had manipulated or falsified images of DNA fragments used in the research.

The investigation committee has concluded that Ms. Obokata is responsible for manipulation and therefore for research malpractice, said Shunsuke Ishii, the Riken scientist who led the committee charged with investigating allegations the work was falsified.

Obokata, in a statement also issued through Riken, vehemently objected to the committees findings.

Follow this link:
Lab says stem cell research falsified