Seoul, Dec. 19 (Reuters): A South Korean university has seized the computer of an embattled stem cell scientist and will release the initial findings this week of a probe into whether his team actually made tailored stem cells.

Scientist Hwang Woo-suk, who faces charges from collaborators that key parts of their landmark May 2005 paper on producing patient-specific stem cells were fabricated, has defended the veracity of the research.

Seoul National University said in a statement that a nine-member investigation committee started probing the findings of Hwang’s team over the weekend.

It sealed off Hwang’s office, collected material from his lab and interviewed 24 team members. “We placed a video camera over the stem cell cultivation office so that we can have 24-hour surveillance of those who enter and leave,” the statement said.

The committee will perform DNA analysis on embryonic stem cells produced by the team to see if they match patients.