stem cell research in Australia.November 16, 2004
A sample of the Mel 1 stem cell line that will soon be freely available to
researchers from Stem Cell Sciences.
In a world first, embryonic stem cells will be given away without
commercial restriction by a Melbourne company to try to lift Victoria's research
profile.
The Monash University-based Stem Cell Sciences said it would make its newly
developed Mel 1 stem cell line available to researchers at no charge "for the
good of mankind".
Embryonic stem cells promise revolutionary medical advances in the future
as potentially they can be grown into any sort of bodily tissue.
This will allow treatment of previously incurable diseases.
The decision was announced yesterday by Stem Cell Sciences chief executive
Peter Mountford and Victoria's Minister for Innovation, John Brumby.
"This incredibly generous and forward-looking approach will allow stem cell
research into diseases like cancer, diabetes and Parkinson's to advance faster
and further than ever before," Mr Brumby said.
Worldwide, more than 70 stem cell lines exist for research but fewer than
20 are thought to be usable.
All have some sort of commercial restriction on their use to protect the
intellectual property of the researchers, as stem cell research is
expensive.
AdvertisementAdvertisementDr Mountford said Mel 1 would be the first of
six such stem cell lines to be made available without restriction by Stem Cell
Sciences.
While saying the decision would be taken "for the good of mankind", he
admitted his company also aimed at attracting the world's best researchers to
Australia.
"We are a company of scientists, and we want to further scientific
research. But this is also a commercial decision aimed at raising the profile of
the company," he said.
"This is not an entirely altruistic decision. By providing these cell lines
we can fast-track stem cell research by ensuring that scientists in different
labs are able to compare research findings arising from the same high quality
cell lines."
Human embryonic stem cells are taken from a four-day-old embryo as a mass
of about 100 cells with the ability to become any type of cell in the
body.
Mr Brumby said the Mel 1 line, named after Melbourne, would be used in
laboratories in Europe, America and Asia.
"It's going to ensure that Victoria does achieve our ambition of being in
the top five biotech locations by 2010," he said.
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