Stem Cell Research Got Cushy Treatment?

In a Thursday Washington Post op-ed. David Shaywitz of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, writes in response to the Hwang debacle:

While most in the field of stem cell research were shocked by the reports of fraud, the shock was only one of degree; it is common knowledge that the bar for publication in this field often has appeared remarkably low, with even well-respected research journals seeming to fall over one another for the privilege of publishing the next hot paper. The result of this frenzy has been an entire body of literature that is viewed with extreme skepticism by most serious stem cell investigators.

So, journal editors have been giving stem cell researchers a break when it comes to reviewing their papers for publication? And why would they do that? Because they know stem cell papers will make headlines. Perhaps the journal editors as well as well science journalists deserve blame for creating such a situation. Maybe we've all been a little too intoxicated over stem cells over the past several years. I don't blame anyone but Hwang for his misrepresentations. But if what Shaywitz wrote is true, we journalists need to remember that any one study is just that until other scientists replicate its results. No single study should be held up as a suddenly new and amazing reality.

Via Tabitha Powledge's The Scientist blog.