World Stem Cell Hub to Begin Research

World Stem Cell Hub to Begin Research

The World Stem Cell Hub in Seoul is accepting applications for research study from persons with Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord paralysis. The applications are for somatic cell donors and only request brief personal information and diagnosis, onset of disease, and symptoms. It is not for treatment. According to an article in the English-language version of the Korean daily Chosunilbo, candidates will be further examined after their application is processed and those that are selected will be donating skin tissue for the somatic cell transfer procedure. The article says that the Hub has received 300 phone calls and 30 e-mails a day since it opened. Treatment for these conditions is still far away.

Analysis of Stem Cell Bank

Analysis of Stem Cell Bank

The Scientist has printed an article analyzing which foreign scientist will be able to make use of the new World Stem Cell Hub in South Korea. According to the article, researchers in Canada and Germany will not be able to import stem cells from the hub. In Canada, cell nuclear transfer is illegal, and in Germany, cell lines derived after January 1, 2002 cannot be imported. In the United States, researchers in all states except South Dakota can import the stem cells, but they cannot use federal funding for research on them.

The article has some useful links as well. It does not address any limitations on stem cell imports in Australia.