 |
 |
A new breeding ground Mud-wrestling over stem cells in the US could open new research doors for Indian scientists B V MAHALAKSHMI Posted online: Monday, August 07, 2006 at 0004 hours IST Stem cell research, a promising field of medical research, is under siege, exclaim scientists. Seething with anger over US President George Bush's decision to veto a Bill allowing federal funding for new embryonic stem cell research, they say that the blocking of federal funds is bound to slow down the global effort that could have led to cures for serious illnesses such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes. While Bush summed up his opposition to the bill on ethical grounds, protests from the Indian scientific community have been on predictable lines. Even as Indian scientists deliberate on whether research will take a hit or not, many are hoping to use the opportunity and tap the stem cell research door without fuelling the fire and causing emotional heat. From the national stem cell centre at AIIMS to Reliance Life Sciences (which plans to introduce therapies for skin care and ophthalmology segments), LV Prasad Eye Institute and various other universities, medical research in stem cells has been rapidly gaining momentum. Besides, several US companies have been seeking to enter into alliances with Indian life sciences firms, to speed up research here in their quest to develop therapies for a range of diseases. A section of Indian scientists believe that India could well replicate its IT success in the biotech sector - analysts peg a $10 billion market opportunity by 2010 for stem cell technologies. Clearly, it's advantage India given its extensive research base and lesser religious sentiments. With well-established laws and policy, it's time for Indian scientists, insurance companies, venture capitalists to tap the opportunity. Embryonic stem cell research and development is still at the laboratory level in the country, says D Balasubramanian, chairman, stem cell task force at the department of biotechnology, New Delhi. Major research is being undertaken in four laboratories - National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, NCBS, Bangalore, Reliance Lifesciences, Mumbai and Manipal Hospital in Karnataka. Also, the first exclusive stem cell transplant centre is coming up at Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre, Chennai. Saneron, a biotech R&D and spin out from the University of South Florida, US, and GE Healthcare are also working for manufacturing patented stem cell suspension by 2007-08. "In the new guidelines for stem cell research put forth by Indian Council of Medical Research, we do accept embryonic stem cell research. A clause, however, has been incorporated so as not to make embryos purely for research," says Balasubramanian. On the US veto, he says, "the objection is ill-advised as most of the clinics have plenty of embryos which are unused embryos. As for India, there will not be any impact on research as we do not have any controversies and the political lobby." ICMR has put in place specific recommendations with respect to the issues of regulation of adult, embryonic, mature or umbilical cord stem cell research in the country. The stem cell task force has sought Rs 100 crore in the government's XI Plan for funding stem cell research in the country. The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) director Lalji Singh says that stem cell research has to be conducted cautiously and scientifically. India needs strict regulation and enforcement for guiding the research. "With the mushrooming of IVF clinics and cord blood banks without any registrations, a regulatory framework is the need of the hour," he says. CCMB is working on pancreatic cells, bone marrow, muscle cells and tissue engineering as part of a consortium of six national laboratories. Chennai-based Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre has initiated stem cell research to harvest and culture stem cells. "The mandate is to seek solutions for diabetes like transplantation of pancreas or Islets of Langerhans which produce insulin," says V Mohan, chairman, Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialties Centre. The Hyderabad-based LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) is using stem cells to treat eye disorders, co-culture central limbal cells peripheral conjunctival cells. On the threshold of phenomenal progress, it's time to keep the momentum going. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn