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SCIENCE : STEM CELL RESEARCH
Challenging Task
The extensive Indian
thalassaemic population and those with sickle cell anaemia will be the
eventual beneficiaries of research, with cells extracted from the bone
marrow at the Institute of Immunohaematology, Mumbai. "We have already
conducted studies to show that bone marrow can be preserved for six months
without losing any of its effectiveness," says Vinayak, "Now,
we intend to network and catalogue stem cells." At the Centre for
Cell and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, stem cells are being extracted
from umbilical cord blood in a project involving Biological Evans, a biotech
company in Hyderabad, says director Lalji Singh. Stem cells are also going
to be used to generate an extensive gene expression profile (behaviour
pattern of a gene) in muscles. Alzheimer's patients have hope too-the
National Brain Research Centre is about to launch a project on neuronal
stem cells.
These are plans to be implemented. Reality paints
a slightly more complex picture. Signals are the key for developing stem
cells, and detecting the right one for the purpose from a cacophony of
biochemical noises is a painstaking process. "Stem cells themselves
are very difficult to maintain," points out Lahiri. Extremely reluctant
to grow outside the womb, stem cells die easily, are sensitive to temperature
changes, get infected by germs, and can be coaxed to divide only with
great care and in a special environment. Overcoming these obstacles demands
heavy investment of finance, time and expertise. But the money invested
by the DBT is only Rs 1-2 crore, "though we intend to increase it
in the 10th plan", says Vinayak. That's less than what most corporates
spend on a single advertisement. "Its got to be a joke," snorts
Shaw. In contrast, Bush's "limited federal funding" amounts
to $250 million (Rs 1,175 crore).
"India has tremendous opportunities in
so many spheres," says Shaw, "but it can have an advantage in
the global perspective only if it takes research seriously." Although
feelers have been sent from various Indian institutes to the US regarding
collaboration, the problem, explains Singh, is that most US researchers
are not aware of the level of Indian expertise and facilities. Another
problem is lack of communication between various institutes. "Without
proper networking throughout India it is not possible to establish a stem
cell bank," says Hasnain.
Focus is the key if India is to compete globally.
"We keep doing things in a half-finished way. China must have marched
ahead," says Shaw. The UK, for example, has already set up a stem
cell bank that will supply cell lines to various institutes. "It
is illegal to work on human cloning but embryonic tissues up to 14 days
old can be studied," says Lane. In the US too, private funds are
not limited and the biotech industry is expected to march ahead. Companies
like Geron Corporation have already invested in this research. India can
have its pot of gold too, but it needs to accelerate if it is to beat
others to the end of the rainbow.
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