India

About 1 million pounds has been spent on stem cell research in India in the last two years. The Department of Biotechnology under Ministry of Science & Technology is the nodal funding agency for supporting the stem cell R& D programme. It has evolved a new strategy for stem cell research for the country. The main features of strategy are:

• Research will be promoted for therapeutic applications using adult and embryonic stem cells as well as other more readily available sources such as bone marrow, peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood cells.
• Focus on basic research and study factors that generate stem cells and how stem cells can be stopped from proliferation.
• Study the biology of stem cells.
• Study the expansion of haematopoietic stem cells without differentiation and gene transduction, gene regulation and plasticity of stem cells.
• Establishing Centre of Excellence will increase productivity in stem cell research in the country. In this regard, interdisciplinary proposals are being developed with the involvement of basic researchers, clinicians and industry.
• To expand the area of stem cell research in India.

It has been decided to promote city clusters programmes in the country, initially in Delhi, Vellore, Hyderabad, Pune and Bangalore as a number of competent researchers and clinicians are involved in stem cell research at these places. The aim of the clusters is to share information, explore collaboration with clinicians, discuss emerging policy issues etc. Virtual network of Centres is also under active consideration.

Under clinical research, it is proposed to initiate focused, targeted network programmes on human stem cell research with the clinicians such as plastic surgeons, cardiologists, neurosurgeons, orthopaedics and others after ascertaining their requirements for stem cell therapy. Under Human Resource Development training programmes including special quota for overseas fellow to train scientists in stem cell area will be provided. The focus will be on creation of critical mass of researchers in the country by involving researchers also from universities. It is considered essential to establish at least one stem cell bank in the country.

DBT has recently invited project proposals for stem cell research. Some of the areas identified are:

• Study of factors that generate stem cells and how stem cells can be stopped from proliferation.
• Study of biology of stem cells.
• Studies of expansion of haematopoietic stem cells without differentiation.
• Study of gene transduction, gene regulation and plasticity of stem cells.
• City clusters for stem cell research involving basic researchers and clinicians.
• Focused and targeted programmes on human stem cell research as tools for stem cell thereby as per requirement of plastic surgeons, cardiologists, neurosurgeons, orthopaeditions and others.
• Use of embryonic stem cells for drug testing.
• Establishment of stem cell bank.

Moreover DBT has recently sent out a call for proposals to support research in cell-based therapy and regenerative medicine.

Cord blood and bone marrow transplantation has been carried out at leading Indian medical centres for the last 20 years: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi; KEM Hospital, Mumbai; Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore and Indian Institute of Haematology, Mumbai. Apart from the DBT and Indian Council for Medical Research, the defence research labs could be one of the drivers in the area. India was being sought after for both its clinical, research expertise and also as a bank of stem cell lines. While research was costly, its applications were not.

To date, more than thirty programmes have been identified by DBT and supported for stem cell research that include establishment of human cell lines, limbal stem cells, haematopoietic stem cells, neural stem cells, embryonic stem cells, liver stem cells, cardiac stem cells, human corneal stem cells, and stem cell preservation.

Currently, several major institutes in India are engaged in stem cell research with most focussing on using stem cells to regenerate nerve, heart and adult muscle cells, and repair damaged bone tissue like L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Chennai, Christian Medical College, Vellore, National Brain Research Centre, Delhi.

India is relatively a new player in this area. Nevertheless, stem cell researchers have already achieved some encouraging results such as the use of limbal stem cells from the eye to treat damaged corneas by an eye institute in southern India. They have already successfully treated 260 cases. To be competitive within the Asia-Pacific region, Indian government needs to have a clearly defined set of regulations for stem cell research. Though embryonic stem cell therapy in India is still quite far off, adult stem cell research will reach clinical stages soon. Government commitment, increasing public and private funding and the increasing & well-trained science base in India should all contribute to India's global position strengthening over the coming years.

India has ethical guidelines on stem cell research, which like in UK permit work on therapeutic cloning and are against human reproductive cloning. The relevant regulatory bodies, Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) are currently working on these existing guidelines to make it more adaptable for research and use in clinical practice particularly in ophthalmology, cardiology and spinal cord repair.

A draft policy for stem cell research is under consideration. According to the Policy, stem cell research should be promoted in the country in the view of its potential for clinical use. Research based on stem cells derived from adults, bone marrow or foetal cord blood may be undertaken after obtaining appropriate informed consent and with adequate safety measures. For embryonic stem cell research, embryos should not be generated for the sole purpose of obtaining stem cells. Only surplus, spare or supernumerary embryos can be used after obtaining informed consent of both spouses. Such collection of embryos should be done only from registered Assisted Reproductive Technique (ART) clinics. To safeguard national interests, it is also perceived that all human genetic research, stem cell research and stem cell research involving international collaboration must be undertaken after formal clearance of the national government. Consent form for use in collection of tissue to be used in human stem cell research has also been prepared by the National Bioethics Committee. A National Task Force for Stem Cell Research has been established to help develop and facilitate co-ordination.

In India, the UK is recognised as a leading country in biotechnology. And for stem cell research, restrictions in the United States help promote us to the fore. Compatibility in policy, historical links, familiarity with UK institutions and a common language also combine to make Britain one - if not the principal - partner of choice for Indian stem cell researchers.
However, because of funding levels, language, infrastructure and the amount of private sector involvement, the United States might still outrank the UK as the most favoured partner. Israel and Switzerland would probably be next on the list after the UK and the US.

Many Indian scientists are attracted to either relocating permanently or at least spending some time in other countries. This is particularly the case in biotechnology related fields where initial training is now widely available in India but experience can be greatly enhanced by working overseas. Pay differentials also remain a major factor. The private sector in India is still relatively immature but is expanding quite rapidly so domestic opportunities for those with international experience are growing all the time.

The majority of Indians looking to work abroad are attracted to the US. The number of opportunities, salary levels, lifestyle and venture capital availability are the main all factors. This is likely to be the case for stem cell work too, but the UK probably ranks a close second because of its reputation in the field, policy similarities, language and wider bilateral ties.

A follow up meeting of the Indo-UK Stem Cell Workshop was held at the Royal Society on July 18. As a result of the discussions, Dr VijayRaghavan director of the NCBS, Dr D Balasubramaniam, Chair of the Stem Cell Task Force, DBT, and Professor MM Panicker, DBT visited the UK Stem Cell Bank to examine the possibility of setting up a similar bank in India.The following recommendations emerged from this meeting:

1. The DBT will examine HFEA regulations and guidelines to examine the value of having a similar mechanism in India. This is necessary for Indian research but export and import of embryos does not require this.
2. Import and export of cell lines and embryos.
   1. Cell lines export: DBT mechanism in place. Export of embryos for derivation of lines.
   2. Import: Co-ordination with UK Stem cell bank. One of the DBT clusters could take this up and work through the steps.
   3. Collaborations could focus on population diversity, GMP procedures, and new ways of deriving cells
   4. Import and characterisation of lines. DBT cluster.
3. Student and post- doctoral exchanges funded by the Indian and the UK governments.
4. Indo-UK Science & Innovation Council could be used as a forum to discuss joint initiatives, future areas of collaborations and additional funding for PhD students and postdocs.
5. Workshops. Yearly. Alternate between fundamental research and clinical research. Specific workshops on ethical, legal and communication issues.
6. India to join the Stem Cell Forum (Colin Blakemore is the chair).
7. Setting up a stem cell bank in collaboration with the UK Stem Cell Bank.

Top

copyright: © | last updated 24 November 2005