Stem Cell India

It is perhaps not just about creating 'spare parts' for Human beings. Stem cell research has grown at a breathtaking pace that any philosopher worth his salt would not attempt to predict the Future. When ethical jingoism predominates the scenario in the west, it is interesting to note that many eastern countries have made rapid strides to reap maximum benefits out of this interesting science. India, already widely acclaimed as the IT [Information technology] superpower, is all set to exploit the benefits of BT [Bio Technology]. This article is an overview of the Stem Cell research in this part of the world.

A lost science?

In Adi parva, one of the chapters of Mahabharata, it is said that Kauravas were created from pinda [a ball of flesh], which Gandhari delivered after two years of pregnancy. It was then handed over to the sage Dwapayan, which was divided into one hundred parts and treated with herbs and ghee. The pieces were covered with cloth and kept in a chamber to cool for two years - out of which the Kauravas were born. "There cannot be any other explanation for this...." says Dr Matapurkar of the Delhi Maulana Azad Medical College.

The ancient sages of India must have perfected the art of regenerating entire human beings from cells. In fact Mahabharata clearly describes the various stages of processing pieces of flesh, which is in fact closely comparable to modern techniques of harvesting and processing embryonic stem cells [sans the sophistication!]. Perhaps stem cell research was altogether a lost science of ancient India.

A rediscovery?

Stem cell research in India made it to the headlines when the US Department of Health disclosed its interest in funding stem cell research in two Indian Centres - the Reliance Life Sciences [RLS] and the National Centre for Biological Sciences [NCBS].

The Reliance life Sciences [RLS]: backed by the industry major Reliance Ltd ranks third among the top-10 institutes world-wide working on stem cells, as stated by NIH and that came just when the RLS was 8 months old! Dr Firuza Parikh, the creator of the first ICSI [Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection] child in India, heads the center.

The National Center for Biological Sciences had been working on stem cells for quite long [since 1999] and has three documented stem cell lines.

Another major institute involved in stem cell research in India is the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, based at Hyderabad. The Institute caught the headlines recently when its doctors succeeded in transplanting a stem cell derived cornea to a patient who had lost his cornea - a treatment option available only in the US at the time.

The Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi is yet another major institution involved in stem cell research. Studies here are led by Dr Balakrishna Matapurkar, one of the pioneers of stem cell research in India.

The Indian BT Boom

Recently the Ruby Hall Medical Research Centre, a subsidiary of Pune-based Ruby Hall Clinic, and Denmark-based biotechnology company Mesibo are soon to form a 49:51 joint venture with the aim to establish India's largest cord blood storage facility at Pune. This is apart from other major pharmaceutical companies in the country setting up their own stem cell and BT research centres all over the country.

These measures got a pat on the back when NIH announced its interest in funding research in stem cells in the country.

Ethics: the Indian Perspective

When ethical jingoism dominate the scenario in the west, eastern countries like India and Singapore are taking rapid strides to reap the benefits of this science to the maximum possible extent.
Unlike the public opinion in the west, which is against researches in this field, the public opinion in many eastern countries including India is far more supportive. The epics and innumerable religious texts that are in many parts of the world acclaimed as having scientific value, may partly be the reason for the scientific temper inculcated in this part of the world.

This openness is reflected in the Indian Department of Biotechnology [DBT]'s statement that India is open to stem cell research; and it promptly made regulatory provisions to control unethical practices, and in fact pioneered in bringing up a widely acceptable legal framework for research.

Conclusions

India has emerged as one of the major countries involved in Stem Cell research. A country which succeeded in becoming an IT superpower is also trying to replicate its success in BT. Apart from the pride and prestige earned by researchers in the country, the research in BT is adding more horsepower to the booming economy of the country. India, having an enviable combination of manpower and infrastructure is also involved in co-operations with other countries thus promoting the free flow of information gained through research and their utilisation in the betterment of Human lives.