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Jul. 2, 2014

Two Nature STAP papers are retracted

On July 2, Nature announced that two papers, “Stimulus-trigged fate conversion of somatic cells into pluripotency,” and “Bidirectional developmental potential in reprogrammed cells with acquired pluripotency,” which were published in late January and whose authors included several RIKEN researchers, had been retracted. RIKEN has also withdrawn several articles that appeared on our website publicizing the papers.

For details of the reasons for the retractions, please see Nature’s website.
Retraction: Stimulus-triggered fate conversion of somatic cells into pluripotency
Retraction: Bidirectional developmental potential in reprogrammed cells with acquired pluripotency

Authors Yoshiki Sasai and Hitoshi Niwa have issued comments regarding the retractions. We are also expecting comments from Haruko Obokata and Teruhiko Wakayama, and will publish them on our website as soon as they are available.

UPDATE (July 7):
We have now received comments from authors Haruko Obokata and Teruhiko Wakayama

UPDATE (July 7):
A detailed protocol (Essential technical tips for STAP cell conversion culture from somatic cells) that was published in Protocol Exchange on March 5 has also been retracted due to the retraction of the two Nature papers.

The following articles, which were withdrawn from our website, have been left for reference as PDF files.

RIKEN Research Highlight, Feb 10, 2014
Stress gives cells a ‘second childhood’
News, Mar 6, 2014
Update on the STAP cell papers

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