The Apollo Group of Hospitals has signed an MoU with the US-based University of Nebraska Medical Centre to conduct stem cell research on cancer. As part of the agreement, the partners will exchange resources, faculty, telemedicine facilities and information, Dr Pratap C Reddy, chairman of the group announced at Hyderabad last week.

The partners are likely to set up an Apollo-Nebraska Cancer Group. A new research lab at Hyderabad is also on the anvil.

The University has collaborations with 60 institutions in 29 countries and is to offer education and training for medical fraternity in the area of cancer. The University has achieved expertise in the area of Integrated Cancer Management. The team constituting experts from both the sides will explore new areas in stem cell research, Nizar Mamdani, executive director, Office of International Healthcare Services, University of Nebraska, said.

Research on lymphoma, bone marrow transplantation and solid malignancies will be carried out as part of this joint initiative. Areas such as mucous transplantation, neural accidents and parotid gland will also form part of stem cell research. In addition to Oncology, the team also is to lay thrust on neurology and orthopaedic segments. Areas such as mucous transplantation, neural accidents and parotid gland will also form part of stem cell research.