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 The papers published by Haruko Obokata in the scientific journal
Nature in January detailed simple ways to reprogram mature animal
cells back to an embryonic-like state, allowing them to generate
many types of tissues — offering hope for a way of replacing damaged
cells or growing new organs in humans.
But after reports pointed out irregularities in data and images used
in the reports, Obokata's employer, RIKEN, a semi-governmental
research institute, began investigating and last week said it had
found her guilty of fabrication, apologizing for behavior that had
damaged the credibility of Japan's scientific community.
"It can definitely be explained how the mistakes happened," Obokata
told a news conference carried live by most Japanese television
stations. She said she had filed an appeal challenging RIKEN's
conclusions.
Bowing deeply and wearing a dark dress and pearl necklace, a pale
Obokata apologized for mistakes that she said were due to her
inexperience but denied that she had acted deliberately.
"More than anything, the experiments properly took place. As the
data actually exists, I want to clarify that I did not create these
papers with ill intent," she said, her voice trembling.
Obokata, 30, became a sensation for her youth and stylishness in
Japan, where scientific discoveries tend to be the province of older
men. Media hailed her as a potential Nobel prize winner and role
model, but also spent hours on her fashion sense and use of a
traditional Japanese apron in the laboratory.
But questions soon emerged about the research methods used by
Obokata and her fellow authors, including Japanese researchers as
well as some at Harvard University and Brigham and Women's Hospital
in the United States, after other researchers could not replicate
the results.
Obokata said the papers had been written to describe the phenomenon
of the cells, known as Stimulus-triggered Acquisition of
Pluripotency (STAP) cells, and that she had thought to write another
laying out the experimental methods in detail. She said she has
succeeded in creating the cells more than 200 times.
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Hailed by the global scientific community, the Nature papers drew
acclaim for Obokata and for RIKEN, one of Japan's top scientific
research institutes.
"We want to create an environment where more young people and women
can carry out research, so we can have a second and third Obokata,"
media quoted Education Minister Hakubun as saying in February.
Obokata sidestepped questions at the news conference about whether
her discovery was used by RIKEN to burnish its name ahead of a
government status upgrade that would bring it more funding and why
she alone was called to task for the papers.
Asked if she felt betrayed, she paused and said: "I believe I should
not have that feeling."
A spokeswoman for RIKEN said the center was responding based on its
regulations.
Obokata said that belief in the STAP cells' potential had sustained
her through years of research, and still did.
"If I have a future as a researcher, I want to help develop these
STAP cells to the point that they are usable in their own right and
useful to someone," she said.
(Editing by Robert Birsel)
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