Cambridge University awarded £8m to build stem cell research institute

14 August 2012

Cambridge University will receive £8 million from the Wellcome Trust and the UK Medical Research Council to build a world-leading centre for stem cell biology and medicine.

The Cambridge Stem Cell Institute will advance understanding of stem cells and their potential to treat a range of life-threatening conditions that currently have no effective cures.

The new Institute will build on existing investment by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Wellcome Trust, uniting 30 leading research teams with expertise across the three main types of stem cell: embryonic, adult and induced pluripotent cells. Research scientists will work alongside technology specialists and doctors to develop new therapeutic approaches underpinned by a strong base of fundamental stem cell biology. Key areas of research at the Institute include pluripotency, haematopoiesis, epithelial tissues, and neural and cardiovascular stem cells.

It is intended that the Institute will eventually be housed in a purpose-built 8,000 sq m facility to be constructed on the Cambridge Biomedical Research Campus. Located in Cambridge, the Institute is near the largest cluster of biotechnology companies in Europe, allowing unrivalled opportunities for industry collaboration.

The potential of stem cells

Stem cells can renew themselves almost indefinitely and can develop into any of the cell types in the body. They are an invaluable tool for scientists studying the mechanisms of human disease and could be used as an alternative to animal models by pharmaceutical companies developing new drugs. They also show great promise as potential treatments for devastating conditions such as liver disease, diabetes, blindness and spinal cord injury and neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease.

Professor Austin Smith, Director of the new Institute, said: "The Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute will be an invigorating environment for cross-fertilisation between fundamental and translational researchers. Our aim is to close the knowledge gap and drive stem cell research forward towards clinical applications. The world-class facilities will attract the best international talent from the fields of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine to pursue this goal."

More information

The Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute: www.stemcells.cam.ac.uk/

 

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