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New Funding for Scottish Stem Cell Network

Posted on: Monday, 28 November 2005, 15:00 CST

By MARK SMITH

THE development of regenerative medicine in Scotland received a major boost yesterday as Scottish Enterprise announced a new funding package for the Scottish Stem Cell Network - a move aimed at keeping Scotland at the forefront of the pioneering industry.

Scottish Enterprise said it will provide [GBP]1.85m in new funding over 10 years to help convert Scotland's "current excellence in stem cells research" into an international cluster of commercial activity.

The Scottish Stem Cell Network was set up in 2003 to encourage collaboration between scientists, researchers and clinicians working with stem cells in Scotland and to enable basic research to be translated to deliver novel treatments for degenerative diseases.

Stem cells are master cells, the building blocks of other cells, which researchers believe can be coaxed and grown into any type of cell in the human body.

These cells hold the greatest hope for advances in human health and curative powers since perhaps Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin in 1928, which led the way to the development of antibiotics to treat infections and has since saved countless millions of lives.

Likewise, researchers are hoping that stem cells, particularly those taken from embryos shortly after fertilisation, will eventually play a major role in curing diabetes, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, as well as helping patients with strokes and spinal cord injuries. Stem cells may also take the place of bone marrow in transplants for people suffering from leukaemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anaemia.

One idea behind the funding is to make Scotland more attractive to scientists.

Scotland is already home to recently floated Stem Cell Sciences in Edinburgh, the world's largest company which uses stem cells derived from mice embryos and, controversially, human embryos.

The company based itself in Scotland to be near worldclass research at Edinburgh University. The other main idea is that if Scotland is the owner of the intellectual property that comes with breakthrough treatments in these areas, the economic and social implications could be massive.

Some of this involves savings to the healthcare system, as well as the spin-offs associated with creating centres of medical excellence and rehabilitation, as well as the licensing out of discoveries to other parts of the world.

Source: Herald, The; Glasgow (UK)

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