SCRFI committed to guideline on stem cells transplant

Bangalore, Jan 30 (UNI) The guidelines on biological material transfer in relation to transplant of stem cells were a welcome step and the Stem Cell Research Forum of India (SCRFI) was committed to it, SCRFI President D Balasubramanian has said.

Briefing newspersons about the first conference of SCRFI, which began here yesterday, he said though the guidelines had been drafted by the Department of Biotechnology and ICMR, they were yet to be enacted by the Government. It was likely to be tabled in Parliament soon. However, there should be a public discussion before the guidelines were made a law, to remove misconceptions.

The guidelines were against creating an embryo using stem cells, human cloning and stem cell implantation without the knowledge of the donor and the patient, he added.

Dr Balasubramanian said research on stem cells was gaining momentum, with 15 research centres taking it up in the country. The Department of Biotechnology, which had formed a task force on stem cells, and ICMR had been giving a helping hand to research institutions. Study on stem cell research in cardiology, which offered great potential to treat heart-related illness, was being taken up in five major research institutions -- CMC vellore, PGI Chandigarh, SGPI Chandigarh, SGPI Lucknow and R and R Hospital Delhi.

He said the five-day conference, attended by 350 professionals including 40 from 12 foreign countries, aimed at providing a platform for forging professional alliances and developing multi-disciplinary network.

SCRFI Secretary Satish Totey said the global market for stem cell therapy was expected to touch 20 billion US Dollars by 2010. In India, the stem cell market was estimated to be around 540 million Dollars and was growing at 15 per cent annually.

He said there had been increasing activity in the country in stem cell research in public and private sectors. Right policies, public-private partnership, funding and an increasing scientific base would help strengthen India's position in stem cell research.

Conference Chairman Prof Alok Srivastava called upon more young minds to take up stem cell research. ''Routine clinical work may be lucrative, but we need more people in research field. Manipal University has set up such a research institute. Research facilities are also coming up in Lucknow and Chandigarh with the support of Department of Biotechnology,'' he said.

UNI