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In a move that stunned the stem cell field, the first researcher to create cloned human cells—and to derive embryonic stem (ES) cells from them—has teamed with a man who once made a fraudulent claim to do the same.
Under a confirmatory photo, a Korean newspaper last week reported an exploratory alliance between cloning pioneer Shoukhrat Mitalipov of Oregon Health and Science University, Woo Suk Hwang of the Korean animal cloning company HBion, and the Chinese stem cell banking company, Boyalife. Mitalipov created the first cloned human cells in 2013. Hwang only fraudulently claimed to create human cells in 2006—and since, clones largely pets.
The two groups are not collaborating academically, the globally respected Mitalipov stressed to Bioscience Technology. The unlikely duo are just teaming up to explore the idea of funding, with Boyalife, some cutting-edge technologies.
Mitalipov’s company, Mitogenome Therapeutics, “has several proprietary technologies including MRT (mitochondrial replacement therapy) and SCNT (somatic cell nuclear transfer, or cloning),” Mitalipov told Bioscience Technology. “We are at the early stage of licensing negotiations for these IPs to Boyalife in China. This...