Stem cell labs set to deliver medicines of the future
(sz) New state-of-the-art laboratories that will allow scientists to make stem cells and turn them into tissue suitable for human transplantation will be officially opened at The University of Manchester today (May, 23rd – ed.).
The two sterile labs will serve the UK Centre for Tissue Regeneration and the Northwest Embryonic Stem Cell Research Centre, which is based in the University Faculty of Life Sciences and at St Mary’s Hospital.
“The centre’s laboratories will be some of the best equipped in the country producing stem-cell lines to Good Manufacturing Practice standards so they can be used for transplantation at a future date,” said Dr Sue Kimber, Co-director of the stem cell centre.
“We aim to build on the strong relationship between the NHS Trust and the University to enable us to deliver state-of-the-art medicines for treatment of a wide range of diseases.”
Scientists believe that stem cells - master cells that have the potential to turn into any kind of human tissue - could be used to replace diseased cells in patients suffering from currently incurable diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and cancer.
The North West Embryonic Stem Cell Centre will ask patients on IVF programmes to donate eggs and embryos that would ordinarily be discarded and develop them in the lab under licence from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. more…
From: »The University Of Manchester«