Time magazine has named the research of stem cell expert Hwang Woo-suk as the top medical headline of the year.

In its online cover story "The Year In Medicine From A To Z," the U.S.-based weekly said Hwang and his 45-member team shocked the world by using groundbreaking cloning techniques to create stem cells from patients suffering from diseases such as diabetes and spinal cord paralysis.

The article also praised Hwang for producing the world's first cloned dog "Snuppy," citing the notorious difficulty in duplicating canines unlike sheep, cats and other animals.

Though the quality of his science is unimpeached, Time said his reputation has taken a beating due to the controversy over how he obtained eggs for his research.