Vic: Melbourne stem cell researchers get US grant
MELBOURNE, April 27 AAP - A Melbourne stem cell research group is to share a $A6.47million US government grant to help it employ researchers and distribute stem cell linesworldwide.
ES Cell International (ESI), which operates a research unit at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital'sBaker Medical Research Institute, is one of four groups to share the grant, announcedin the US early this morning Melbourne time.
"This is a wonderful surprise, the announcement was not expected so soon," a companyspokeswoman told AAP.
"The grant has to be used for infrastructure, which means we will be able to employmore research scientists, which is a wonderful thing for Melbourne."
US Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, who championed stem cell researchat the University of Wisconsin while he was state governor, said the grants would "allowus to move forward in a very careful and measured manner".
The grant is to be split between ESI, Cellsaurus, a subsidiary of Bresagen of Athens,Georgia; the University of California-San Francisco; and WARF (Wisconsin Alumni ResearchFoundation), Mr Thompson said.
At the same time, Mr Thompson announced WARF had signed an agreement which allowedESI and other stem cell research groups to distribute their cell lines worldwide.
"This agreement ... will enable researchers worldwide to pursue studying human embryonicstem cells," Mr Thompson said.
In a prepared statement, ESI CEO Robert Klupacs said the company was delighted to havereached the agreement.
"The agreement allows us to contribute to the development of critical mass in thisexciting area of research, while maintaining our primary focus which is the developmentof therapeutic products," he said.
AAP ag/cdh
KEYWORD: US STEMCELLS AUST
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