Statement from the International Stem Cell Forum
28 February 2008
Members of the International Stem Cell Forum (ISCF) meeting today in San Francisco issued the following statement:
The ISCF supports stem cell research using both human embryonic and adult stem cells. The Forum also recognises that the demonstration of human induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells opens up an exciting area of stem cell research. The technology is at a very early stage however and many questions remain unanswered such as the functional relationship of iPS cells to human embryonic stem cells, both of which are important to moving the entire field of stem cell research toward application and clinical therapies.
About the International Stem Cell Forum (ISCF) The International Stem Cell Forum (ISCF) is made up of twenty one funders of stem cell research from around the world. It was founded in January 2003 to encourage international collaboration and funding support for stem cell research, with the overall aim of promoting global good practice and accelerating progress in this vitally important area of biomedical science. The Forum's long-term aim is to help stem cell scientists achieve a range of revolutionary medical advances that will benefit people throughout the world.
The discovery of induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells is a major breakthrough in stem cell research. iPS cells are created through the reprogramming of differentiated cells by the addition of a discrete set of genes, as first demonstrated in mice by Shinya Yamanaka in Kyoto University in 2006. This has more recently been recapitulated in humans, opening up the possibility that human iPS cells might offer a valuable new approach towards the application of stem cell technology.
This technology is at a very early stage, and although there has been proof of principle many questions remain unanswered. For example, the functional relationship of iPS cells to human embryonic stem cells needs to be determined, while methods for their creation need refinement. To support the emergence of this technology in the UK and provide a platform for future work in this area, the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC) are calling for proposals to promote the development of human induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells.
Deadline for receipt of applications Wednesday 19 March 2008
Phone: 0207 670 5139
press.office@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
