Fund sought for stem cell research

The department of biotechnology's (DBT) task force on stem cell research has asked the government to establish a priority fund to encourage research in this and related areas.

Speaking at a week-long 'Indo-UK Stem Cell Workshop' being held in Bangalore, D Balasubramanian, chairman of the task force on stem cell research and director LV Prasad Eye Institute, said DBT has been approached for a part of its Rs 500 crore budget for stem cell research.

"Currently, DBT is spending Rs 150 crore of its budget towards biotech research. If a portion of this is spent or dedicated to stem cell work, this will give the country some advantage over the West," he added.

An alternate model is also being suggested in case DBT cannot assist. This envisages involving the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Science and Technology and Defence Research and Development Organisation.

The country has made progress in research involving neuronic cells and cardiac, eye and diabetic ailments. So far, stem cell research in India is mainly carried out by public-funded institutes like LV Prasad Eye Institute, CMC Vellore, IISc, NCCS, NBRC, CCMB, NCBS, CDFD, Nizams, TIFR, Nimhans, PGI Chandigarh, AIIMS and IIH (ICMR) with minimal private sector involvement by a few organisations like Reliance Life Sciences, Pacific Stem Cells Hyderabad and SGA Rao At Bangalore, Cadila and Manipal Hospital.

Balasubramanian said cord blood and bone marrow derived haematopoietic cells transplantation has been practised over 20 years at AIIMS in New Delhi, CMC Vellore, IIH and KEMH in Mumbai.

In CMC Vellore, Alok Srivastava is working on haematopoietic stem cells, establishing technology for collection, isolation, purification and expansion.

At the National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune, Dr Nibedita Lenka is working on embryonic stem cells as a developmental paradigm to explore early neuro- and cardiogenic process. And at the same centre, work is on for harnessing the potential of multipotent adult stem cells.

At NIMHANS, Bangalore, Dr T R Raju is working on compensatory replacement of projection neurons in the olfactory bulb following olfactory tract transection and at CCMB, Hyderabad by Dr Jyotsna Dhawan is on 'adult muscle stem cells and skeletal muscle regeneration'.

About advantages India offers in stem cell research, Balasubramanian said, "In India stem cell city clusters have emerged with Hyderabad, Vellore and New Delhi taking the lead followed by Bangalore and Pune-Mumbai. These clusters share facilities, ideas, clinical opportunities and business possibilities regularly.

"Regular clinician-scientist interaction is high in several research centres. City clusters have emerged facilitating collaborations and inter agency (departments) co-operation," he added.

The country is slowly building its manpower pool. With 15 active research institutes, the task force on stem cell research is also planning to involve graduate and post-graduate students to take up activities in basic science and cell biology.