Famed South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-seok will launch a joint study with British scientist Ian Wilmut in an effort to find treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease.

The Seoul National University professor, curently visiting the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland, said Tuesday that he had held in-depth discussions with a research team at the Institute before briefing the Seoul government. He's now waiting for official approval of the plan.

Dr. Wilmut, the creator of the world's first cloned sheep, had proposed a joint study to Professor Hwang when he visited Hwang's research team in Seoul last month. The proposed study requires the South Korean's stem cell technology.

Hwang said he would be able to confirm the project only after discussions with the Seoul government.