stem cells are here in india... as expected

India to cure killer diseases from siliconindia.com

New Delhi: India will launch its first stem cell transplant center in Chennai, opening next month. Killer diseases like leukaemia, stroke, diabetes and crippling spinal cord injuries could now be treated in India only.

LifeCell, a pioneer in stem cell banking and research in India, in collaboration with the US-based Cryo-Cell Inc would be launching this center. The company has invested $4mn to set up the transplant center at the Sri Ramachandra Medical Center of Excellence, which will be fully operational by the end of this year.

"In India the concept of preserving the stem cell is gradually gaining momentum and the potential for this is huge," said Prasad Mangipudi, vice president of LifeCell.

"Stem Cell therapy is fast emerging as a revolutionary way to treat various diseases and injuries with wide ranging medical benefits," said Anthony Finch, who joined as Advisor to LifeCell, which is launching the country's first stem cell transplant centre.

Stem cell transplantation has been used for more than 30 years to treat a variety of cancers as also some types of solid tumors where other treatments have failed.

"Bone marrow cells are being used for transplants for the past 30 years. Its only in 1988 that the first cord blood transplant was done," informed Mangipudi.

Patients suffering from haematological and oncological ailments would be treated first using stem cells from various sources -- adult bone marrow, umblical cord blood and peripheral blood. The transplant centre would be operational by next month, Mangipudi said adding that he would like to wait for six months before venturing out on an expansion plan.

LifeCell currently offers umblical cord stem cells banking facilities and has about 4,000 subscribers. Stem Cells are undifferentiated cells that retain the ability to produce an identical copy of themselves when they divide and differentiate into other cell types. They have the ability to act as a repair system for the body replenishing other cells as long as the host organism is alive.

Stem cells, obtained from cord blood cells during childbirth, have the potential to cure over 75 diseases that humans face today as they can be used to repair specific tissues, according to researchers.

As for the future the company plans to open collection centers in Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore. Their Dubai center would have its own collection bank while the Malaysian center would be their Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) hub.