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Stem cell chief says funding shortfall may see brain drain

Evening News, Edinburgh, May 1st, 2006,

The Capital’s place as a world leader in developing new treatments for incurable diseases is under threat because of a lack of investment.

Scientists in Edinburgh at the cutting edge of stem cell research are currently working to find new treatments for conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. But there is only meagre funding available for scientists to pay for the clinical trials needed to take their basic ideas and turn them into commercially viable therapies.

It is feared that world-renowned scientists in Edinburgh could be forced to go abroad to develop their discoveries further.

The UK Stem Cell Foundation (UKSCF), which is based in Edinburgh, has said an extra £350 million is needed over the next decade to prevent a ‘brain drain’.

UKSCF chief executive David Macauley believes that rapid investment would secure Edinburgh’ place at the centre of a lucrative world market.

He said: “Edinburgh is at the epicentre of stem cell research globally and Scotland stands head and shoulders over our competitors. We need to make sure scientists who remain in Scotland are not lead away because of a lack of funding or a lack of resources.

“In the next few years there is the potential for 200 top-grade positions to be created in Edinburgh in this area.

“It’s jobs on one level, but perhaps the most important thing is that it places Edinburgh at the centre of a $30 billion (£16bn) world market and that_s a prize we have never had the opportunity to grab before. It_s a massive opportunity and I can_t overemphasise that.”

Since it was established more than six months ago, the UKSCF has generated £20m in investment from private backers, government and Scottish Enterprise. Its first round of grants are set to be announced in the next few months and projects to benefit will be ones which have the potential to result in new treatments within five years.

Scientists at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh have already pioneered the use of stem cells to create the world’s first cloned sheep.

More recent work at the institute has seen scientists isolate stem cells from embryos that were created, but not needed, for IVF treatment. Mr Macauley said several projects were at a ‘critical funding stage’ and were at the point where clinical trials were a possibility.

In Edinburgh, clinicians have been working on a revolutionary treatment for diabetes in which stem cell transplants are used to help the body produce its own insulin and end the need for injections.

Work has also been ongoing to use stem cell transplants as a way of reconstructing the surface of the eye in patients whose sight has deteriorated because of disease.

Mr Macauley said Edinburgh was an ideal place for the work to continue as the expertise already existed at the universities and the medical campus at Little France.

He said: “Little France is an ideal site’ the medical school is there, you have a new hospital there and that gives you the academics and the clinicians and patients they need to work with.

“Edinburgh is already well down the road in that and what we need is the courage of our convictions so they can keep going with that.”

He emphasised, however, that competition was fierce and more resources were needed urgently if Scotland was to compete with countries such as China and Spain, where governments are already investing heavily.

Mr Macauley said: “This is Scotland’s opportunity to capitalise on the research base we have and, if we don’t, the danger would be the commercial knowledge and the public health knowledge will accrue elsewhere.

“You’ll see an inevitable brain drain and the top scientists who are in Edinburgh will go to work at better facilities in other countries, where there are better opportunities to develop their work.”

Linda Summerhayes

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