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UK told to hike funds for stem cell work

Evening News, Edinburgh, December 2nd 2005

BRITAIN must spend at least an additional GBP 350 million over the next ten years if it is to remain the global leader in stem cell research, a report out today warned.

The study from the Government's Stem Cell Initiative recommends the cash should be in addition to the GBP 300m that would be invested under current plans.

The Capital could be one of the main beneficiaries, with teams at Edinburgh University's Institute for Stem Cell Research and Roslin Institute, famous for cloning Dolly the sheep, possibly in line to receive part of the share-out.

Some of the money will be used to set up private-public partnerships with biotechnology companies to accelerate the clinical application of stem cells and to use them in drug development.

The report came as Stem Cell Sciences, the recently-floated Edinburgh University spin-out, acquired a new cell processing facility at the Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation in Kobe, Japan.

Sir John Pattison, who chaired today's report, said: "The ultimate health and wealth gains the UK will enjoy are directly proportional to the additional investment we propose."

Gordon Brown, who commissioned the study, has accepted it in full. The Government will fund its recommendations for the first two years by providing GBP 100m for stem cell research in 2006 and 2007 - annual levels will rise after that as the science develops. "Britain should be the world's number one for genetic and stem cell research, building on our world-leading regulatory regime in this area," he said.

The Government has invested GBP 40m since 2003 into 90 laboratories and has set up a stem cell bank. Today's study recommends moving the bank into permanent facilities and securing operational costs for the next decade.

Scientists are developing treatments for various diseases from stem cells, which have the potential to become any type of cell in the body, and can replicate indefinitely. Parkinson's disease, diabetes and heart disease are among the conditions that might be treatable with stem cell therapies.

Researchers in the public and private sectors welcomed the extra funding. Peter Mountford, chief executive of Stem Cell Sciences, said: "This can only help the UK to build a leading global position in stem cell research."

David Macauley, chief executive of the UK Stem Cell Foundation, said the outcome of the initiative would help the foundation reach its target of raising GBP 100m.

Meanwhile, the Chancellor today set out plans for a new framework for medical research in the UK, designed to attract private sector investment of as much as GBP 1 billion in the development of new drugs.

The package was unveiled at a Treasury conference on Advancing Enterprise, at which Mr Brown pledged Government support for science, innovation and creativity to put the UK at the cutting-edge of the new globalised economy.

by Alistair McCarthur