European Science Foundation aims to strengthen 'regenerative medicine'

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European Science Foundation aims to strengthen 'regenerative medicine'

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/esf-esf061908.php

14 Member Organisations* of the European Science Foundation have

launched a key initiative to keep Europe at the forefront of

regenerative medicine; broadly defined as the development of stem

cell therapies to restore lost, damaged, or ageing cells and tissues

in the human body.

Stem cells are the body's 'master cells' that have not yet been

programmed to perform a specific function. Most tissues have their

own supply of stem cells, and it is becoming clear that if these

cells can be given the appropriate biochemical instructions, they

can 'differentiate' into new tissue. In this way, for example, stem

cells could be seeded into damaged heart muscle to repair it.

Regenerative medicine has many advantages over more conventional ways

of repairing or replacing damaged tissues or organs. Because the stem

cells are taken from the person being treated, there are no problems

with the body's immune system recognising the cells as 'foreign' and

attempting to reject them, something that is still a problem with

organ transplantation, for example.

To help ensure that Europe retains its competitive edge in the field,

the ESF has launched REMEDIC, a research networking programme in

regenerative medicine (13 May 2008). For the next five years a

steering committee of 13 of Europe's leading specialists in

regenerative medicine will organise a series of meetings and

workshops to bring together experts to share ideas and develop new

collaborations.

" I think this network will be very important to allow scientists in

the field to share and disseminate information, " says Professor Yrjö

Konttinen, of Biomedicum Helsinki in Finland, who chairs the steering

committee. " The network is open, so we will be in contact with many

different organisations with an interest in the field. We want to

meet people, establish joint collaborations with existing programmes

and we will also be seeking funding for new initiatives. "

REMEDIC will concentrate on the potential of a particular type of

cell in the body called mesenchymal stromal cells. These can be

obtained from fat tissue and coaxed to differentiate into a range of

cell types, including bone, cartilage and muscle. Once the cells are

in the relevant tissue, their growth and proliferation can be

protected by biomaterials, which are structures implanted into the

body that can guide the growth of the new tissue.

REMEDIC's first workshop is planned for mid-August in Helsinki, and a

call for short term and exchange visits will be launched in late

2008. REMEDIC is a Research Networking Programme managed by the

European Medical Research Councils (EMRC) at the European Science

Foundation.