Faster SC research called for in UK

[rayilynlee <rayilynlee@xxxxxxx>]

Faster Stem Cell Research Backed
By Guy Basnett 

A leading geneticist at the North's pioneering Centre for Life last night 
backed a call to speed up research which could involve testing on 
terminally-ill people. 

Professor John Burn, medical director of Newcastle's Institute of Human 
Genetics, said he believes animal testing of stem cell technology could be 
sidestepped to quicken research into terminal diseases. 

His comments come after Professor Ian Wilmut, the Edinburgh scientist who 
cloned Dolly the sheep, said the emerging science should be tested on 
terminally ill people who volunteer. 

Prof Burn said: "The issue that is being raised is can we sidestep the animal 
experimentation stage, and the answer is possibly we can, if people are willing 
to take the chance."

He added that a new specially designated facility at the Institute, expected to 
be opened in August, will take it one step closer to creating stem cell 
treatments for patients. 

Prof Burn said stem cell technology is not thought to hold the same risks as 
new chemical drugs or gene therapy and the process of research is likely to 
come under debate. 

He said: "Any new drugs have to be tested on animals, to prove it is as safe as 
possible. But this is a slightly different science. We're not talking about a 
new chemical that could make your teeth fall out, but cells that live in the 
human body. 

"The only real concern is that they don't grow out of control and become 
cancerous."

However, he said, any risks can be lessened by implanting cells with mortality 
genes, allowing them to be killed off at a later date through the 
administration of a drug. 

He added a special ethics committee, similar to the group set up to monitor 
gene-therapy research in the 1990s, is expected to be set up to ensure 
individuals are not exploited. 

"People who are terminally ill can be desperate, and while some want to be 
altruistic and help others, we need to protect other people from being 
exploited."

The Institute, part of Newcastle University, was recently awarded a pounds 9m 
grant, pounds 2m of which will go towards the creation of a new Good 
Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility. 

Prof Burn said: "The GMP facility will allow that if we are donated eggs from 
the fertility centre, that fertilised egg can be grown and turned into stem 
cells. 

"If and when we have that we can start thinking about making treatments that 
can be tried on patients."

Stem cells are able to grow indefinitely, producing "daughter" cells that can 
form different tissues. It is hoped the therapy will hold the key to treatments 
for devastating conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's and Motor 
Neurone Disease (MND).



Source: The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  




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