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Great potential for new success in Swedish stem cell research
March 21, 2002Swedish stem cell researchers are in a good position to become even more successful than in recent years. This can be achieved by improving the collaboration between research groups, and by increasing the number of researchers in the field through, for example, the introduction of "come-home" grants for those who have been abroad. Equally important would be economic commitment to basic research on stem cells, and the creation of regulations for emergent commercial aspects so that researchers can maintain free access to material and research results. All this is established in the first survey of Swedish stem cell research.
While Swedish stem cell research is partly in the international forefront already, it yields a smaller number of publications than what would correspond to Swedish researchers' proportion of biomedical research as a whole. The reason appears to be that it concerns a relatively new field. On the other hand, Swedish researchers have produced works of good quality which have attracted great attention internationally.
Three centres and a new network
At least one hundred researchers with doctoral degrees are pursuing part- or full-time studies in the area of stem cells, distributed over more than thirty research groups. The most intensive research activity occurs at the three centres which have been built up at the Karolinska Institute and the universities in Göteborg and Lund. Special posts for researchers on stem cells have also been provided there. A national network for stem cell research is under development as well - the Swedish Consortium for Stem Cell Biology and Cell Therapy, SWESTEM.
Difficulties of defining the field and resources
"The definition of what constitutes stem cell research is not yet unambiguous," says Professor Lennart Enerb'¤ck at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Göteborg, who has carried out the survey along with Professor Jan Lindsten from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Stem cell research is difficult to delimit as a unified area, since it contains issues that are also central to other contexts in cell and tumour biology. This, in turn, makes it hard to determine which researchers are conducting studies of stem cells and what resources are available for such research.
The investigation proposes:
-Increased funding of basic research
-Collaboration with researchers in other fields
-Increase the numbers of researchers through
A research school
Post-doctoral positions
Come-home" grants
-Review of rules for commercial interests
Vetenskapsrådet (The Swedish Research Council)
At least one hundred researchers with doctoral degrees are pursuing part- or full-time studies in the area of stem cells, distributed over more than thirty research groups. The most intensive research activity occurs at the three centres which have been built up at the Karolinska Institute and the universities in Göteborg and Lund. Special posts for researchers on stem cells have also been provided there. A national network for stem cell research is under development as well - the Swedish Consortium for Stem Cell Biology and Cell Therapy, SWESTEM.
Difficulties of defining the field and resources
"The definition of what constitutes stem cell research is not yet unambiguous," says Professor Lennart Enerb'¤ck at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Göteborg, who has carried out the survey along with Professor Jan Lindsten from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Stem cell research is difficult to delimit as a unified area, since it contains issues that are also central to other contexts in cell and tumour biology. This, in turn, makes it hard to determine which researchers are conducting studies of stem cells and what resources are available for such research.
The investigation proposes:
-Increased funding of basic research
-Collaboration with researchers in other fields
-Increase the numbers of researchers through
A research school
Post-doctoral positions
Come-home" grants
-Review of rules for commercial interests
Vetenskapsrådet (The Swedish Research Council)
Stem Cells Current Events and Stem Cells News RSSNew discovery about the formation of new brain cells
The generation of new nerve cells in the brain is regulated by a peptide known as C3a, which directly affects the stem cells' maturation into nerve cells and is also important for the migration of new nerve cells through the brain tissue, reveals new research from the Sahlgrenska Academy published in the journal Stem Cells.
Umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant may help lung, heart disorders
Two separate studies published in the current issue of Cell Transplantation (18:8), - now freely available on-line have shown that transplanted human-derived umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cells transplanted in an animal model had positive therapeutic effects on specific lung and heart disorders the animal models.
Gene mismatch influences success of bone marrow transplants
A commonly inherited gene deletion can increase the likelihood of immune complications following bone marrow transplantation, an international team of researchers reports in the November 22 advance online issue of Nature Genetics.
New research shows versatility of amniotic fluid stem cells
For the first time, scientists have demonstrated that stem cells found in amniotic fluid meet an important test of potential to become specialized cell types, which suggests they may be useful for treating a wider array of diseases and conditions than scientists originally thought.
First reconstitution of an epidermis from human embryonic stem cells
Stem cell research is making great strides. This is yet again illustrated by a study carried out by the I-STEM* Institute (I-STEM/ Inserm UEVE U861/AFM), published in the Lancet on 21 November 2009. The I-STEM team, directed by Marc Peschanski has just succeeded in recreating a whole epidermis from human embryonic stem cells.
Bone Implant Offers Hope for Skull Deformities
A synthetic bone matrix offers hope for babies born with craniosynostosis, a condition that causes the plates in the skull to fuse too soon.
Your Own Stem Cells Can Treat Heart Disease
The largest national stem cell study for heart disease showed the first evidence that transplanting a potent form of adult stem cells into the heart muscle of subjects with severe angina results in less pain and an improved ability to walk. The transplant subjects also experienced fewer deaths than those who didn't receive stem cells.
Is hepatic differentiation of embryonic stem cells induced by valproic acid and cytokines?
Embryonic stem (ES) cells, known for their capacity to proliferate indefinitely and differentiate into almost all types of cells including hepatocytes, have raised the hope of cellular replacement therapy for liver failure.
Paradoxical protein might prevent cancer
One difficulty with fighting cancer cells is that they are similar in many respects to the body's stem cells. By focusing on the differences, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have found a new way of tackling colon cancer. The study is presented in the prestigious journal Cell.
U of M researchers find 2 units of umbilical cord blood reduce risk of leukemia recurrence
A new study from the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota shows that patients who have acute leukemia and are transplanted with two units of umbilical cord blood (UCB) have significantly reduced risk of the disease returning.
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