Hundreds of South Koreans have offered to donate eggs for stem cell research in a show of support for cloning pioneer Hwang Woo-Suk despite his admitted ethical breaches, supporters said Sunday.
More than 700 would-be ova donors have come forward in the past two weeks alone, campaigners for Hwang said in an update on online egg donor applications.
Hwang admitted Thursday to having covered up the fact that members of his team had donated their own eggs to research that produced the world's first cloned human embryo for generating stem cells.
Taking responsibility for ethical violations, he stepped down from all official posts including the chairmanship of a new research body, the World Stem Cell Hub, established only last month by the government.
Hwang has since avoided all contact with the media.
"Please come back, doctor Hwang. I'm already dying to see you, professor Hwang," read banners put up on a website (http://cafe.daum.net/ilovehws) run by the researcher's supporters.
The website began taking egg-donation pledges online two weeks ago, relaying them to a clinic linked to Hwang's research team. The number of pledges had reached 725 by early Sunday.
The site carried a photo of Hwang and his cloned dog, Snuppy, trimmed with images of the Rose of Sharon -- South Korea's national flower -- in an apparent appeal for patriotism. The national anthem played as background music.
Those who applied to donate ova included those with incurable illnesses or their family members, who hope that Hwang's research will eventually lead to cures, as well as just ordinary young, healthy women.
"Please don't give up, doctor Hwang. Your research is my only hope. You should take all of my ova if they help," Kim Yong-Hae, a 27-year-old disabled woman, said in a message, becoming the 487th donor.
"I'm a healthy 38-year-old woman who has not given birth to a child. I am impressed by Hwang's dedication. I want to give meaningful help to Hwang's great work," a would-be donor calling herself Amidist said in a message.
Hwang's trouble was triggered by news that Gerald Schatten, a prominent researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, had ended a 20-month collaboration with the South Korean stem cell pioneer.
Under internationally accepted medical ethics standards, scientists are warned against receiving ova from their junior researchers who are vulnerable to pressure.
Hwang and his team at Seoul National University made world headlines in February 2004 when they announced the first-ever cloning of human embryos, from which they harvested stem cells.