Canada's First Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines
Thursday, 09 June 2005
A senior scientist at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, has developed Canada's first two human embryonic stem cell lines, giving researchers across the country new potential and hope for eventually discovering treatments and cures for many chronic and fatal diseases.
"My hope – and the hope of my world-class laboratory team – is that our step of developing the first Canadian embryonic stem cell lines will ultimately bring Canada and the world closer to treating or curing diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Diabetes and spinal cord injuries," said Dr. Andras Nagy, a researcher at Mount Sinai's Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute.
"Our research remains in an early phase but the ability of these cells to develop into any kind of function cells in adult bodies holds enormous promise for these cells to regenerate damaged tissues that cause incurable diseases."
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Stem Cell Oversight Committee (SCOC) determined that Dr. Nagy derived these new stem cells lines in a manner consistent with the Stem Cell Guidelines.
The two cell lines have since been submitted to, and approved by, the International Stem Cell Initiative (ISCI). The Stem Cell Network will direct the use of the two new lines in Canada. The McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine at the University of Toronto contributes to the support of a human embryonic stem cell core facility.
The stem cell lines will be freely available to the Canadian scientific community and will enable Canadian scientists to research potential treatments for a variety of diseases.
"Having our own cell lines gives Canadian researchers access to a valuable research tool. These two lines will be shared with scientists all over Canada and with the scientific community at large. They are a valuable contribution to stem cell research on a global scale," said Dr. Michael Rudnicki, Scientific Director of the Stem Cell Network.
Dr. Nagy is a senior scientist at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. He is also a professor in the department of Medical Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Nagy completed his B.A. and Ph.D. at Loran Eötvös University in Budapest.
About the Stem Cell Network:
The Stem Cell Network is a collaboration of more than 70 leading scientists, clinicians, engineers and ethicists, working together to harness the extraordinary potential of stem cells. The Network, which is based at the University of Ottawa, is one of Industry Canada's Networks of Centres of Excellence, Canada's flagship science and technology program. For more information, visit www.stemcellnetwork.ca.
Source: Press release from EurekAlert, DC, USA.
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