Cambridge University gains stem cell centre funding
pharmafile | August 9, 2012 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Cambridge, MRC, Wellcome Trust, stem cell
The Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council are investing £8 million into a new stem cell research centre.
The facility will be based at Cambridge University and is named the Wellcome Trust – Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute.
This Institute will build on existing investment by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Wellcome Trust, uniting 30 leading research teams with expertise across the three main types of stem cell: embryonic, adult and induced pluripotent cells.
Research scientists will work alongside technology specialists and doctors to develop new therapeutic approaches, and this will be underpinned by stem cell biology.
The Institute will eventually be housed in a purpose-built 8,000m2 facility, to be constructed on the Cambridge Biomedical Research Campus.
Key areas of research at the Institute include pluripotency, haematopoiesis, epithelial tissues, and neural and cardiovascular stem cells.
The MRC notes that by being located in Cambridge, the Institute is near the largest cluster of biotechnology companies in Europe, allowing an opportunity for industry collaboration.
Professor Sir John Savill, chief executive of the MRC, said: “The UK is currently one of the best places in the world to do stem cell research and we want to make sure that continues to be the case now, and for the next generation of scientists.
“By joining forces with the Wellcome Trust to invest strategically in all areas of stem cell science, embracing both adult and embryonic stem cells, we will create a competitive and attractive environment for future commercial investment in regenerative medicine.”
Earlier this year the world’s first stem cell derived drug was approved for use in Canada. Osiris’ Prochymal was approved in May for children with graft versus host disease (GvHD), and caused considerable excitement amongst researchers in the area.
There are also a number of early-stage trials investigating stem cells for conditions such as liver disease, diabetes, blindness, spinal cord injury and neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease.
The Institute will build on centres already established at Oxford and also Harvard University in the US, which was set up in 2004.
Ben Adams
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