The Hyderabad-based Centre for Liver Research and Diagnostic in association with Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) will set up a stem cell research in Andhra Pradesh.

The centre will be located at Upparapally village in Rajender Nagar in Ranga Reddy district in the state. It will have a stem cell research centre for regenerative medicine, hospital and animal house, besides other facilities. The centre will be headed by noted gastroenterologist Dr C M Habibullah.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, Dr C M Habibullah said, that this would be an international centre which will have all facilities to carry out industry as well as academic research. Initially a proposal was presented before the state government to allocate 10-acre land for the centre of which the government has allocated five acres only.

Recently the state cabinet has decided to allocate land for the centre for research and regenerative medicine at a nominal cost of Rs 5 lakh per acre.

Though the funding pattern and various facilities that will be available in the centre have not been finalized yet, it is likely that the project will be funded by NRI doctors. Total cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 100 crore.

According to Dr.Habibullah, the centre would conduct basic stem cell research as well as research for Parkinson's disease, diabetes, neurology and other diseases. It will produce the stem cells required for treatment of various diseases and would also conduct contract research.

Besides conducting research, the centre will establish a 100-bed hospital for stem cell therapy which will be further upgraded to 200-bed hospital to accommodate more patients. Under this, the stem cells produced in the research would be used for the treatment of various diseases.

The construction work has not been started yet as the project is waiting for approval and clearance from various authorities. It is expected that the project will be initiated during August or September this year, provided the government issues orders in this effect. The first phase is expected to be ready by mid 2008, he said. It is also expected that the government would allocate more land for the centre after the first phase.

Till now, we have been successfully conducting research in animals for treatment of various human diseases. We hope that this centre will further strengthen the stem cell research segment in the country, Dr Habibullah said.

The upcoming centre will be probably called as Hyderabad Centre for Stem Cell Research and Development.