Japan to retract stem cell study?

A Japanese research institute is likely to retract a study that promised a revolutionary way to create stem cells over claims its data was faulty, reports say, dealing a huge blow to what was touted as a game-changing discovery.

The findings, published by Haruko Obokata along with other Japanese researchers and a US-based scientist in the January edition of British journal Nature, outlined a relatively simple approach in the quest to grow transplant tissue in the lab.

Japanese media reports Friday said the 30-year-old Obokata has joined other scientists involved in the study in calling for their research to be axed, in what would amount to a serious professional embarrassment, and deflate hopes of a major advance in the field.

The study was billed as the third great advance in stem cells - a futuristic field that aims to reverse Alzheimer's, cancer and other crippling or lethal diseases.

But it faced hard questions as the respected Riken institute, which sponsored the study, launched an inquiry last month over the credibility of data used in the explosive findings.

The institute - which has said it was mulling a retraction - was to hold a press briefing on Friday afternoon to announce the results of its investigation, which could lead to quashing the study, public broadcaster NHK and the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported.

"Research that surprised the world by defying the common wisdom in biological science will likely have to go back to the drawing board," the Asahi said.

At issue are allegations that researchers used erroneous image data - crucial to supporting the study - which resembled those used in Obokata's doctoral dissertation in 2011.

Nature said this week it had launched an investigation.