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Scientists Plan Stem Cell Clinical Trials By Jude Sheerin, Scottish Press Association Thursday, 5th February 2004 Experts from across Europe were gathering today to launch a project to take stem cell research from the laboratory into the clinic. The four-year project, which involves 14 organisations from eight European countries, is being led by Edinburgh’s Institute for Stem Cell Research. Stem cells may hold the key to replacing damaged tissue in devastating diseases such as Parkinson’s but more research is needed to test their potential. The EuroStemCell project is a bid to launch clinical trials and promote a European stem cell industry that can compete with those in North America and Japan. Stem cells are blank ‘master’ cells that can be made to develop into different kinds of tissue. The experts will work together to test the therapeutic properties of stem cells from embryonic, foetal and adult tissues in mice. Their research could lead to treatments for muscular dystrophies and a range of other degenerative diseases in humans. Prof Austin Smith, of the University of Edinburgh, said: “After all the hype, now is the time to find out whether we can understand stem cells well enough to use them for medical benefit. “The project is very exciting because it unites all the very best researchers in in the common goal of taking this research from the laboratory into the clinic.” The EU has awarded £8.1 million to the researchers, who are based in Scotland, England, Sweden, France, Denmark, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. Prof Anders Bjorklund, of Lund University, Sweden, said: “We are convinced the benefits and safety of treatments for diseases like Parkinson’s can be improved by this research.” SOURCE: The Scotsman, UK http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2493149 * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn