A leading hospital has opened the nation's biggest center for stem cell therapy research.

Cha Hospital Group said Thursday that the center will conduct basic research, culture and clinical tests of adult and embryonic stem cells.

The center will be the country's first to carry out the entire process of stem cell research.

The hospital said it will soon resume somatic stem cell research soon that has stalled since the research fraud scandal of cloning scientist Hwang Woo-suk broke out late last year.

Cha has invested 35 billion won to build advanced research facilities and hired 150 staff led by Harvard Medical School professor Kim Kwang-soo.