|
|
 |
UK Stem Cell Initiative [UKSCI]
| Global positions in stem cell research |
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has a strong position in Stem Cell Research with 7
'stabilized' human embryonic stem cell lines derived at the Laboratory
of Molecular Medicine in Brno. Scientists are now characterizing the lines,
and plan to study the cells' potential to develop into differentiated
cells such as neurons, which they believe could have therapeutic potential.
As a part of the Czech Centre for Cell Therapy and Tissue Repair in Prague,
headed by the neurobiologist Prof. Eva Syková, researchers are
strongly encouraged to develop protocols and strategies for neurodifferentiation
of human embryonic stem cell cells. The research plan is to implant the
embryonic stem cells into animals with experimental models of pathological
state or with an injury of brain or spine. The cells will be marked by
super-paramagnetic iron nanoparticles and thus will be traceable in animals
and later in humans using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.
There appears to be no special funding allocated exclusively to Stem
Cell research. This means that researchers have to submit their bids to
the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic; Ministry of Health or other funding
bodies and compete for funding in the usual peer review system. As a result,
the funds for stem cell research come from different places and it is
difficult to find out a total spending on stem cell research. So far,
expenditure on stem cells is not counted separately and thus it is not
possible to provide accurate and comprehensive figures. CEP project registry
is the only opportunity, but the search by key words would be neither
easy nor accurate.
The strategy of funding can be described as a bottom-up approach with
new ideas coming from researchers. There is no government initiative to
direct Stem Cell research into any specific sector or priority. The Czech
Republic is a small country with a few research teams in the Stem Cell
research being driven by the big EU projects and directions from the US
and UK. A New Government Bill regulating Stem Cell research was passed
by Government in July 2005 and will go to the Parliament with expected
entry into force in July 2006. The current state of the prepared legislation
is very similar to the UK model, where therapeutic cloning will be allowed
and licensed, but reproductive cloning will be banned. A registry of stem
cells will be established at the Ministry of Education. All research projects
will require an approval from the Bioethical Commission, which is a part
of R&D Council (the governmental advisory body).
|
|
|
|
You
are here: 
