Stem technology is fast emerging as the most advanced medical technology with promising potentials to cure mankind from various kinds of ailments and diseases. In fact it has become the new mantra of healing diseases across the world. The new medical technology which is still at the research stage holds potential to change the way healing takes place in the human body.
Even while major subjects of this technology are still at various levels of research, a few proved systems of stem cell therapies are fast emerging as the most preferred option for effectively treating various kinds of diseases like cancer, diabetes, bone-marrow cancer etc.
In India, scientists like Dr. B.S.Ramakrishna, Prof. Alok Srivastava from Center for Stem Cell Research, Tamil Nadu, are investigating the role of cancer stem cells in the biology of human cancer. Recent evidence from their studies suggests that at least in certain types of cancer, malignancy is propagated by a few cells that have the properties of stem cells. The existence of such cell types has been proven in certain types of malignancy. “Using oral cancer, as a paradigm of squamous carcinoma, we are evaluating the role of cancer stem cells in cancer biology. In these studies, cells will be isolated from pieces of tumour tissue taken out at surgery and evaluated in biological assays to establish the stemness of individual cells” says Dr. Ramakrishna.
Another interesting aspect of the stem cell technology is its ability to restore the damaged organs. Intensive research is going on across the world to explore the depths of Stem cell technology and use it for improving human health by restoring cellular and organ function damaged by degeneration and various injuries. At the same time it also raises several scientific, ethical and social issues in the development of such applications. Despite the controversies and ethical questions that stall the therapy, many are opting for it.
Strengths of India in stem cell technology
Today India’s strength in stem cell technology is quality talent pool. The Indian stem cell industry draws its strength from the fact that many fresh as well as experienced PhD and MD level scientists. These talented professionals are venturing into this emerging scientific arena that has resulted in increasing number of research publications and patents generating from India.
Another added advantage of Indian is that many stem cell researchers are having significant amount of experience of working abroad in leading universities in many advanced countries.
And moreover as the Indian markets are young and unexplored Indian born professionals are coming here either to establish their own research venture or joining with existing forces to help facilitate a positive outcome for the development of novel therapeutics using stem cells. The initial trend in stem cell therapy has been unpredictable to some extent as the major players in the field were busy figuring out the science and regulatory pathways that would ultimately lead to a successful product.
Realising the importance of stem cell research,the government of India has allocated Rs. 300 crores for Department of Biotechnology over the last five years towards basic and applied research in stem cell technology.
Challenges
Though stem cell research is booming, and shows promising results some of the medical experts have expressed serious reservations. As this area is untested its free and unregulated research may give rise to untold ramifications in the future.
While performing stem cell transplant or stem cell related treatment the use of right kind of stem cells in the most appropriate way for a particular disease is of utmost importance. There are also issues related to the use of human embryos to create human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines, potential for commoditization of human tissues and cells with inherent danger of exploitation of underprivileged people, and challenges related to prevention of human germ-line engineering and reproductive cloning.
There are also potential dangers of tumorigenicity with use of these cells keeping in view their potential for unlimited proliferation and possible introduction of genomic changes during in-vitro manipulations also limitations related to immunological tissue incompatibility between individuals. Research in this field, therefore, needs to be regulated with special attention to these issues.
Realizing the need for a well framed regulatory protocol for doing research in stem cells in the year 2007 the government of India brought out a set of guidelines on conducting stem cell research but these are not legally binding. The Union Health Ministry had set up the National Apex Committee for Stem Cell Research and Therapy to review all the controversial and ethical stem cell research proposals and make policies on stem cell use in India. The Indian Council of Medical Research, the medical body that regulates medical research allows for embryonic stem cells research but that is only if the condition or disorder is considered incurable. "Stem cell research is not regulated at all. Any research needs to be approved by government agencies and ethical committees," says Dr. Bhasker, a Private consultant in Hyderabad.
In spite of all the challenges it presents, medical experts vouch for stem cell transplants which gives new hopes for myriad of ailments which are otherwise incurable by conventional treatment procedures.