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AUSTRALIA: Biotech In Stem Cell Giveaway Gosia Kaszubska November 16, 2004 A MELBOURNE biotech company will offer scientists unconditional access to a new embryonic stem-cell line in an effort to speed up lifesaving medical research. Stem Cell Sciences says it is the first time a human embryonic stem- cell line has been made freely available to researchers worldwide, without any commercial or intellectual property constraints. A stem-cell line is based on a cell that can endlessly replicate itself in a laboratory and can be used to make any kind of cell in the human body. Stem Cell Sciences chief executive Peter Mountford said restrictions on the use of existing stem-cell lines were hindering research. "It really is not appropriate that something that has been donated for the good of mankind is controlled by any individual," he said. Dr Mountford said the line, which cost about $100,000 to develop, was well suited for research into treatment for Parkinson's disease and diabetes. The company planned to release five more stem-cell lines over the next two years. Dr Mountford admitted the company's motives were not wholly altruistic, with hopes that its expertise in stem-cell lines will give it an edge in attracting the world's brightest researchers for collaborative work. "We want to further scientific research, but this is also a commercial decision aimed at raising the profile of the company," he said. SOURCE: The Australian, Australia http://tinyurl.com/5bnvx * * * Murray Charters <[log in to unmask]> Please place this address in your address book Please purge all others Web site: Parkinsons Resources on the WWWeb http://www.geocities.com/murraycharters ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn