“It’s a terrible disappointment that we’re reading about it from other countries,” Scadden said in early February. “It’s imperative that we be able to use this technology in the U.S.”

But Scadden said yesterday that plans for the center have been forming for more than a year and were not in response to the developments in South Korea.

Harvard scientists have seen their share of breakthroughs on stem cell research in recent years.

Most recently, Cabot Professor of the Natural Sciences Douglas A. Melton announced last November he had created 17 new stem cell lines for research.

But under federal regulations, those stem cells can only be studied with private funds, like those which will likely finance the center.

Melton, who will be co-director of the center, declined to comment on any specifics yesterday.

The move toward a consolidated center for stem cell research is one in a number of moves University President Lawrence H. Summers has made to emphasize life sciences. Harvard and MIT joined last summer to announce the creation of the Broad Institute, which will devote at least $300 million to the study of the human genome.

Hyman would not say how much money the University would seek from outside donors for the stem cell program but said the amount would be “substantial.”

That fundraising effort, which Scadden said will officially begin this week, will likely coincide with a University capital campaign and several other individual programs.

Scadden said the center would include research in adult and animal stem cells, as well more controversial human embryonic stem cells.

—Staff writer Zachary M. Seward can be reached at seward@fas.harvard.edu.