The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Scientists favour registry of stem cells

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 03, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Scientists favour registry of stem cells

Divya Ramamurthi

Experts say this will improve their availability and hasten trials

BANGALORE: A national registry of mysenchymal stem cells, derived from the bone marrow that could be used by hospitals for multi-pronged clinical trials, has been mooted by scientists to the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

At a high-level meeting held recently by DBT officials in Bangalore, researchers from Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai, and Christian Medical College, Vellore, suggested setting up the registry to improve the availability of mysenchymal stem cells and hasten clinical trials using them. Mesenchymal stem cells are found in the bone marrow of adult humans. They have the potential to develop into mature cells that produce fat, cartilage, bone, tendons, and muscle. Mesenchymal cells can be isolated from human bone marrow and transferred into cell cultures where they can be encouraged to grow and reproduce and yet still maintain their stem cell capabilities. The researchers proposed the setting up of stem cell lines in laboratories, including those at Manipal Hospital and CMC, Vellore, to develop these cells which would then be sold to hospitals or doctors for a fee.

DBT has agreed to fund a part of the operations. "The stem cell lines will encourage more hospitals to involve themselves in clinical trials and bring down the cost of the trial," says Satish Totey, Research Director at Manipal Stem Cell Research Centre.

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