South Korea’s health watchdog said Tuesday it has certified a new stem cell research institute to help the country expand its knowhow in the cutting-edge scientific field.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the Stem Cell Research Center at Jeju National University has been authorized to conduct tests on somatic embryos.

Headed by bioengineering professor and renowned stem cell researcher Park Se-pill, the center is the sixth institute to be given permission to carry out critical tests that could expand medical horizons and help fight incurable diseases.

At present, Seoul National University Hospital, Cha Hospital, Shin Woman’s Hospital, Gangseo MizMedi Hospital and Sooam Bioengineering Research Institute are authorized to conduct stem cell tests.

The latest move comes as South Korea, which had been at the forefront of stem cell research, lost its status after research conducted by cloning expert Hwang Woo-suk was found to be based on falsified data.

Hwang, who had been a star scientist, was fired from Seoul National University and found guilty of violating the country’s bioethics law and embezzling research funds.

The Jeju research center, meanwhile, said that it plans to submit a research proposal outlining plans to conduct more detailed stem cell work to the health ministry.

Under South Korean law even institutes certified to conduct stem cell work need to be get additional clearance on embryonic cloning.

Foreign countries are all pouring money and manpower into so-called cell replacement therapy and South Korea needs to take similar steps, it pointed out. 

(Yonhap News)