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India to Build Stem Cell Bank
Hindustan Times
22 April 2005
Indo-Asian News Service
Bangalore, April 22 -- India plans to build a stem cell bank with the umbilical cords of newborn babies for research, treatment and regeneration of new cells and tissues.
Inaugurating the three-day conference-cum-exhibition on biotechnology, "Bangalore Bio 2005", here Friday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said with about 25 million births a year, India had a huge potential to develop a strong stem cell bank, drawing blood from the umbilical cords of the newborns.
"For once the huge population, which is the bane of all problems in the country, is going to be a little advantage in the stem cell scenario. With 25 million births a year, we will have an equivalent number of umbilical cord cells every year," he said, adding that this would help in research and treatment for millions of people.
Since stem cell research and application of biotechnology in healthcare and agriculture involve ethical issues and challenges faced by the sunrise sector, the ministries of science & technology and health are jointly organising an international conference in Mumbai Sept 18-20.
"In the run-up, the government will come out with a national biotech policy (NBP) to facilitate research and development (R&D) in agri-biotech and bio-pharma sectors with a roadmap for investments, collaborations and partnerships.
"The ministries of science & technology and health & family welfare will also jointly promote extensive research in stem cells by leading academic and research institutions in the country," Ramadoss told about 800 delegates at the inaugural event.
Allaying fears that the use biotechnology will escalate the prices of either drugs or farm inputs, Ramadoss said the benefits of drug discovery, clinical research and innovative farming techniques would be cost effective in terms of improved healthcare and higher agricultural yields.
Lauding the contribution of the private sector in biotechnology, Ramadoss said that unlike medicine and other life sciences, biotechnology was the only field that was all comprehensive with a holistic pattern of prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
"With the growing number of diabetics, cardio-vascular diseases and the emergence of new infectious diseases, the role of biotechnology will be crucial for countries like India with over a billion people," Ramadoss said.
Among others who spoke were: Karnataka Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and British High Commissioner Michael Arthur.
Published by HT Media Ltd. with permission from Indo-Asian News Service.
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