WELLCOME IMAGES, ANNIE CAVANAGHIn an effort to make it easier for researchers to develop stem cell–based therapies, the UK Stem Cell Bank is offering several ready-to-go human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines derived from donated tissue that originated at in vitro fertilization clinics in the U.K. This is the first such bank of its kind. With appropriate consent and the use of clinical-grade manufacturing protocols, the lines were derived with the intent of applying them therapeutically, not just for research.
“We’ve had quite a bit of interest,” said Glyn Stacey, director of the UK Stem Cell Bank. “We hope to start releasing them in the coming weeks and months.” Three cell lines are currently available. Stacey said his organization anticipates another dozen will come online in this year.
Stem cell lines that have been used in human trials to date were either retrofitted from research-derived lines to suit human use or are proprietary—that is, developed by a particular company for its use alone. The stem cell lines offered by the UK Stem Cell Bank, on the other hand, are available to researchers who submit an approved application, which must include, along with study details, approval from an ethics committee and the copy of the consent ...
