Originally published November 3 2005
Seoul center leads the world in stem cell research
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Led by cloning pioneer Hwang Woo-suk, the World Stem Cell Hub has recently received hundreds of volunteers willing to donate skin cells for embryonic stem cell research.
Seeking what she sees as a chance for a cure, the 55-year-old South Korean joined hundreds of patients who applied Tuesday to take part in research with a worldwide stem cell center that hopes to cure hard-to-treat diseases with its trailblazing cloning technology.
"I spent the past 22 years in tears and I had no hope," said Kim, who was paralyzed from the chest down in a 1983 traffic accident with a drunken driver.
She is among thousands of people volunteering skin cells to help launch a global center that will grow embryonic stem cells for research.
The World Stem Cell Hub, led by cloning pioneer Hwang Woo-suk, aims to one day help those suffering from ailments such as Parkinson's disease or damaged spinal cords and who are willing to offer skin tissue for research.
But the scientists caution that actual treatment for such ailments is years away.
Despite the high hopes of those volunteering for research, scientists don't even know for sure if such future treatments will work.
The Seoul-based research hub opened Oct. 19 with the aim of serving as the main center for providing scientists around the world with embryonic stem cells.
On Tuesday, the first day it accepted applications from patients to participate in research, the center received 3,500 responses from patients via the Internet, telephone and fax or in person, said Lim Jong-pil, an official at the center at Seoul National University Hospital.
During the day, the center's Web site was inaccessible for hours due to a rush of applications.
No foreigners applied, although the center is open to them, Lim said.
The center, which will have its first branches in Britain and the United States, is expected to provide other scientists room to get around government restrictions on research into embryonic stem cells.
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