Singapore Wants Everyone To Know They Do Stem Cell Research Too
Related News: Stem Cell Investment, Stem Cell NewsIn Asia, South Korea always gets the spotlight .. and sometimes China. Singapore however, has been quietly working on developing procedures based off of some the research being done world wide.
Steven Fang, chief executive of Singapore-based CyGenics, stated that more Singapore-based firms are taking the research being done all over the world and turning it into marketable technology which is already safe for human use.
"Stem cell development needs to be turned into a mature technology that is of meaningful use to humans," said Fang, at the company's blood bank, where umbilical cord blood is frozen for possible future use in the fight against lymphoma, anemia and bone marrow cancer.
"We are trying to make the stem cell technology safe for humans to use."
In 2002, a Singapore boy suffering from leukemia was treated with stem cells from his baby sister, whose parents had stored blood from her umbilical cord at the company's storage facility, CordLife. The boy is currently in remission.
When asked whether Asia was leading the stem cell research race, Fang said: "To a great extent, yes. Asia got a head start."
Researchers in Asia got a boost in funding after the Bush administration sought restrictions on government funding for stem-cell research in the United States.
Read more at Reuters - Singapore carves niche in stem cell research
Posted on August 26, 2005 03:07 PM