The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and the Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) are jointly planning to establish a Clinical Research facility to develop stem cell technologies and regenerative medicine, at Hyderabad.

An investment of Rs 11 crore will be made in establishing this facility. The facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2007. The facility will include laboratory for basic research and development, laboratory for clinical research and other infrastructure facilities.

The facility will be operated by a joint team of basic researchers from the CCMB and clinicians from NIMS. Apart from the funding support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the initiative has also received support from the Andhra Pradesh Government, which has contributed five acres of land for the facility.

CCMB has earlier signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nizams Institute of Medical sciences for this purpose. Moreover, in the area of stem cell research, CCMB is collaborating with Owaisi Hospital (Hyderabad) and NIMS.

DST has already released Rs 5 crore for this purpose. As of now, CCMB has invited applications for pre-qualification of contractors for setting up the facility on turnkey basis.

There is also a proposal to set up a facility for therapeutic cloning in Kolkata in collaboration with the Institute of Reproductive Medicine (IRM). The facility will work on embryonic stem cells and therapeutic cloning. Dr Baidyanath Chakraborty of IRM will be coordinating with CCMB in setting up of this facility.