Disgraced stem cell scientist found dead

A renowned Japanese stem cell scientist who co-wrote research that was later retracted in an embarrassing scandal has been found dead after apparently taking his own life.

The body of Yoshiki Sasai, 52, was discovered inside the stairwell of a building that houses the Riken Centre for Developmental Biology, one of the country's most prestigious scientific research institutions.

The office is in the western city of Kobe.

"Police are investigating the case as a suspected suicide," a spokesman for the Hyogo Prefectural police said.

A Riken spokesman later confirmed Sasai's death was suicide, and told reporters: "We were aware that (Sasai) had been mentally and physically exhausted."

He added that authorities discovered "farewell notes" the scientist had left behind, with public broadcaster NHK reporting that one was left for researcher Haruko Obokata.

Sasai mentored the 30-year-old Obokata, who unveiled a study earlier this year that was hailed as a "game-changer" in the quest to grow transplant tissue in the lab.

But the feted research unravelled amid claims Obokata used fabricated data in her research.

Leading science journal Nature said last month it had withdrawn the study after mistakes were discovered in some data published in two papers, among other problems.

In the aftermath of the scandal, Sasai was accused of failing to properly supervise Obokata. He later apologised.

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Disgraced stem cell scientist found dead