Stem cell lab to be opened in Stanley Hospital in Chennai in 2019
Posted on: 22/Nov/2018 11:22:08 AM
Established in the year 1938, SMC or Stanley Medical College is located in north Chennai and is highly popular. This medical college with superbly equipped hospital is now grabbing the attention of many. It is important to note that for more than a decade the state government was planning to start a stem cell laboratory in the popular government Stanley Medical College Hospital. The main objective was to conduct research activities in organ failures and in the therapy of blood disorders. It is now revealed that stem cell lab would start functioning in early 2019.
Many people these days get affected by multiple myeloma, leukaemia, lymphoma and thalassemia etc and lose their precious lives to these issues. By stem cell research it would be possible to give free treatments for the people affected by these above mentioned issues. There would also be research activities in treatment of other ailments also. In the year 2008 the project was approved but it faced many hurdles that included bureaucratic delays also. In the recent report, the controller auditor general pointed out these delays is known. One important point is stem cells that are found in embryos, cord blood and human beings have got the capacity to develop into any type of tissue. Liver transplant is the only option available currently for those affected by end stage liver diseases. The sensational piece of information is by means of bank the Stanley hospital would be able to develop therapy for these end stage liver diseases.
Surgical gastroenterologist, Dr. Jeswanth Satyanesan of this Stanley hospital, spoke about how on 10th of December 2018, officials belonging to ICMR and directorate general of drug control would visit this hospital laboratory to check the infrastructure, manpower and manufacturing practices for issue of licence. He later added that if licence was issued then the hospital lab would be able to start human trials for liver failure. The doctors expressed their opinion in this stem cell research and spoke about how 60 % of the deliveries in TN take place in government hospitals and how cord blood and placenta would be used as the main source of stem cells for the purpose of research. The doctors added that small portion of healthy liver tissues dissected along with the diseased livers during the surgeries at the hospital could also be a source of stem cells. Not all the cells in cord blood or adult tissues are stem cells and they have to be isolated after screening for diseases such as HIV, rubella and hepatitis etc. Once the cells get isolated then they would be developed in a cultured medium.
As per Dr. Edwin Joe, director of medical education, to provide stem cells at subsidised rates, the state is considering to set up a public stem cell bank. He later highlighted that many people who prefer treatment in private hospitals could not afford for stem cells. He hinted about the possibility of providing stem cells for these people at low cost. He finally spoke about the commercial aspects that are to be worked out.
