Chennai based Lifeline multi-specialty Hospital has tied up with international universities to bring out innovative treatment procedures using stem cells and other technology. The hospital is planning to evolve effective treatment through research and the universities will provide the essential assistance.

The hospital is planning to do research using stem cells for treating diseases such as liver disorder, diabetes and spinal injuries. There are also plans to introduce surgery for diabetes and metabolic disorders and minimal invasive surgery for cardiac diseases.

"We have tied up with Japan based TERUMAN University and we will be collaborating with them in the treatments using stem cells. They will be providing the technological assistance to harvest and provide the stem cells," said JS Rajkumar, chairman of the Lifeline group of Hospitals.

He said, that the hospital had also tied up with St Louis University, Missouri for performing the paediatric cardio thoracic surgery. A group from the university will be visiting Lifeline hospitals in the coming days. The hospital has also tied up with an international university to conduct research. He said that the name could not be disclosed now.

"I would term this as a surgery outsourcing. People will be operated upon at a reasonable price and they would not need to fly all the way to Ohio or some other foreign country and get their surgery done after spending heavy amounts. We have all the technology and we will be assisted by the international universities," said Rajkumar.

Speaking about how his hospital's stem cell therapy would differ from others, he said that the technology they were using was different and the stem cell harvesting was also different form others. "We will have the IPR for say around 5 years and then we will let it out so that even other hospitals and organizations can use it," said Rajkumar. Lifeline had tied up with Quintiles, to conduct clinical trials on various drugs used for cancer, colitis, and other diseases some years back, he said.

Lifeline has plans to set up a 45 bedded hospital in Madipakkam, Chennai. They have taken over a local hospital and would be investing around Rs 3 crore for the infrastructure up gradation etc. The new hospital will specialize in cardiology and gastroenterology. It will have 6 ICU's and state of art diagnostic and testing centres.

"We are not averse to expanding to other states, but we need strategic partners who would contribute towards mutual growth. I few receive such partners we can expand to other States and provide our treatments there too," he said.