On January 30 of this year, Nature published two paradigm-shifting studies that have sparked exciting discussions in the field of stem cell biology.1,2 While much of the current research has focused on advanced techniques for generating therapies from adult stem cells, researchers from the Riken Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe, Japan, along with colleagues at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, have proposed a refreshing and more straightforward approach.

At the heart of their findings is an intriguing method that induces pluripotency in murine cells through exposure to various stressors, particularly through an innovative “acid bathing” technique. This exciting new strategy led to the development of what they termed “stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP)” cells. Should this technique prove applicable to adult human cells, it could represent a revolutionary advancement in regenerative medicine, offering a simpler and potentially more ethical pathway to obtaining pluripotent stem cells, as opposed to the conventional methods involving embryos or induced pluripotent stem cells.

However, the initial enthusiasm for the STAP technique has quickly evolved into a critical examination of its validity. In the months following the publication, many in the scientific community have raised substantial concerns regarding the authenticity of the data presented. Some figures in the papers have shown inconsistencies, and significant textual similarities have been identified between these works and prior studies, prompting important discussions about potential plagiarism or a lack of originality. More critically, independent attempts to replicate the researchers’ results have not yet succeeded, leading to growing uncertainties about the technique’s reliability.

In response to these valid concerns, Riken made a statement on April 1, acknowledging substantial errors in the Nature papers and advocating for their retraction. Dr. Ryoji Noyori, the esteemed Nobel Prize-winning chemist and president of Riken, emphasized that the panel’s conclusions highlighted serious lapses in research ethics, largely attributed to the inexperience of the junior researcher involved as well as lapses in leadership and collaborative verification among all co-authors.

Despite the prevailing skepticism, Dr. Haruko Obokata, the lead author, has remained steadfast in her conviction and has not withdrawn the papers. Concurrently, Dr. Charles Vacanti, her former mentor at Harvard and a coauthor of the controversial studies, has taken the initiative to publish his own protocol for generating pluripotent cells, steering away from the debated STAP approach. Additionally, Dr. Kenneth Lee from the Chinese University of Hong Kong has suggested that an alternative version of the STAP technique may still possess potential, indicating that the exploration into these groundbreaking ideas is far from over.

As it stands, the fate of the STAP cell generation method is uncertain. A final judgment on its legitimacy awaits the authors’ decisions and Nature’s ultimate stance. This ongoing dialogue brings to mind Lydia Davis’ recent work, Can’t and Won’t: Stories, particularly the poignant lines from her short story “Not Interested”: “Please spare me your imagination, I’m so tired of your vivid imagination.”3 It serves as a reminder that, regardless of the challenges we encounter, the primary mission for the scientific community must remain unwavering: to uncover the verifiable truths central to the STAP findings, and to uphold the integrity of scientific research. Let’s embrace the journey of inquiry with optimism and commitment, as we work together towards discovery and progress in science.

https://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.2014.44.2.49