The government will launch this week a task force to overhaul its support for stem cell research in the wake of the fraud scandal of Hwang Woo-suk.

An official with the Science and Technology Ministry said Wednesday that the task force will devise a comprehensive plan to protect the country's stem cell technology, set up a related infrastructure and set goals through an overall review of domestic stem cell research.

An official said the team will decide the proper financial support for stem cell research through its own study and analysis, but added the amount should not differ much from last year's.

The government last year poured 25.6 billion won into stem cell research, including 7.5 billion won for embryonic stem cell research.