Press Release Source: State Government of Victoria, Australia

Victoria Launches New Human Embryonic Stem Cell Line & Drives
International Stem Cell Network
Sunday June 19, 12:00 pm ET


MELBOURNE, Australia and PHILADELPHIA, June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- A second
human embryonic stem cell line to be made available to researchers
worldwide without commercial or intellectual property restraints was
announced by the Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, at the global
biotechnology conference BIO 2005 in Philadelphia today.
MEL-2 is the second of six lines to be developed and distributed over the
next two years by Stem Cell Sciences Limited (SCS), the Australian Stem
Cell Centre (ASCC) and Melbourne IVF.

Last year saw the launch of MEL-1, one of the world's first new human
embryonic stem cell lines without commercial or intellectual property
restraints, which was accepted for deposition into the UK Stem Cell Bank.

"The stem cell lines are being made available to researchers without
encumbrances to fast track research into treatments for diseases such as
Parkinson's and diabetes," Mr Bracks said.

Stem cells are of particular significance to researchers because of their
ability to self-renew and to develop into any type of specialised cell in
the body.

Although US authorities agreed in 2001 to approve 78 human embryonic stem
cell lines for federally funded research, the number of usable lines has
now dropped to less than 20. And while other countries have developed
lines for international research, many have extensive commercial
restraints that may hinder the development of stem cell-related
treatments.

"Today's announcement clearly places Victoria at the leading edge of
stem- cell sciences," Mr Bracks said.

Minister for Innovation, John Brumby, also used the occasion to announce
that Australia will take the lead on a new international stem cell
research 'network of networks' thanks to $200,000 in funding from the
State Government of Victoria.

"The International Consortium of Stem Cell Networks aims to unify
international efforts to accelerate the delivery of the therapeutic
benefits of stem cell research," Mr Brumby said.

The Victorian Government is providing the funding to establish a
Secretariat for the Consortium at the Australian Stem Cell Centre in
Melbourne.

"Most of the world's major networks will participate including the US
National Institutes of Health, the International Society for Stem Cell
Research, and the Stem Cell Networks in Canada, Scotland, North Rhine,
Norway and Israel.

"This initiative ensures that Australia continues to play a key role in
influencing international stem cell research decisions where we are
acknowledged as a world leader," he said.

BACKGROUND

Australia is currently undertaking a review of existing stem cell related
legislation, while the US Congress recently voted on a Bill to loosen
restrictions on stem cell research.

Stem Cell Roundtable at BIO 2005

The Victorian Government has undertaken important stem cell meetings at
BIO 2005 culminating in a crucial round-table meeting on Sunday 19 June
with Australian State Premiers Bracks, Beattie, and Rann and Victoria's
Minister for Innovation, John Brumby and Victorian Minister for Health,
Brownyn Pike with:


     -- Dr Hugh Niall, CEO from the Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC);
     -- Kirk Kleinschmidt, Director of Legislation and Research Policy,
        California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a US$3 billion
stem
        cell research initiative;
     -- Dr James Battey, head the National Institutes of Health's
taskforce on
        stem cell research; and
     -- Professor Ron McKay, a senior investigator at the National
Institute
        of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

The round table was held to determine strategies to ensure that US and
Australian governments work towards common, transparent and agreed
regulations for stem cell research.

Melbourne, Australia - A Hub for Stem Cell Research

Alan Trounson and Martin Pera's lab at Monash University was one of three
international sites to discover human embryonic stem cells in 1998. Since
then, the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments have supported the
development of a world class stem cell hub in Melbourne with the
establishment of the Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC) as its focal
point. Melbourne's position at the forefront of international stem cell
research was cemented in February 2005 with the opening of the world's
largest regenerative research facilities. Based at Monash University, the
Major National Research Facility (MNRF) hosts the ASCC's stem cell bank
which will characterise, bank and distribute new Australian embryonic
stem cell lines to Australian and eventually international collaborators.
It will also bank stem cell lines received on a reciprocal basis from
overseas groups. In a world-first MEL-1, a human embryonic stem cell line
developed in Melbourne by Stem Cell Sciences Limited, the ASCC and
Melbourne IVF, was made available to researchers worldwide free of IP or
commercial encumbrances. The stem cell line has been accepted for
deposition in the UK Stem Cell Bank and will be available from the MNRF.
MEL-1 will raise Victoria's profile as an international player in stem
cell research and will fast track stem cell research globally.




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Source: State Government of Victoria, Australia

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050619/nysu009.html?.v=13

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