Singapore based Pacific Healthcare Holdings, a corporate hospital, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Andhra Pradesh government to set up stem cell research centre and state of the art maternity hospital in Hyderabad. The MoU was signed by the chief minister, Chandrababu Naidu during his recent two day business trip to that country.

The CM signed another MoU with Asia-Pacific Biotechnology Network (APBioNet) to enable life sciences research institutions in the state like CCMB, IICT and NIN (National Institution of Nutrition) to become part of a global research network with focus on bioinformatics.

In a presentation at the seminar on “Trade and Industry Destination: Andhra Pradesh,” Naidu said the 21st century belonged to biotechnology and his government had taken the initiative to develop the Genome Valley as a world-class biotech hub. He said an international institute of life sciences was being set up in Hyderabad with the help of leading pharmaceutical companies. Global networking of these research institutions was necessary for sharing of knowledge. Collaboration with APBioNet was an important step in that direction, he said.

Dr B S Bajaj, Chairman, All-India Biotech Association, Southern Chapter, told Pharmabiz that both the MoUs were the result of the International Seminar on Stem Cell Research organized by AIBA in Hyderabad in May. He said Pacific Healthcare Holdings had been established by a group of doctors and they run 18-20 hospitals in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. This is the second largest private sector hospital chain in Singapore.

A delegation from the group headed by Managing Director Dr William Chong, which visited Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai, preferred Hyderabad for setting up the project. The Rs 50 crore project, in two phases, envisages the setting up of a world-class facility for cord blood stem cells research and banking together with a maternity and neo-natal hospital.

The stem cell research project is based on blood from the umbilical cord and the maternity hospital will significantly help procure inputs for the research. This blood can be stored in the bank attached to the centre. The hospital will have tie-ups with other hospitals to collect umbilical blood.

The Government of AP has offered five acres of land on the Old Bombay Highway for the project, according to Dr Bajaj.