Date:05/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/05/stories/2007110559310400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Sibal assures early clearance to CCMB facility

HYDERABAD: The second phase of the Clinical Research Facility for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine to be set up on the NIMS campus in collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) will be approved within a month of submitting the proposal.

This assurance was given by Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal here on Saturday while addressing a gathering at CCMB after laying the foundation for the first phase at Uppal. According to Gopal Pande, scientist of the CCMB, the first phase would be operational by January 2009.

It would mainly focus on diagnostic procedures and archiving data of patients to be by cell-based therapies. It will isolate, characterise, store and transport cells that would benefit patients therapeutically and develop strategies for improving the therapeutic potential of stem cells.

The facility will work on diseases relating to cardiovascular, musculo-skeletal, gastrointestinal, liver, diabetes and different kinds of cancers.