News

Scientists create stem cells without using embryos | 3 August, 2009 | Deborah Smith, Science Editor, Sydney Morning Herald

Sydney researchers have made the state's first human-induced pluripotent stem cells – ethically uncontentious stem cells that behave like embryonic ones.

The development, which could lead to new medical treatments, comes as overseas scientists have created fully developed, fertile mice from mice skin cells, using induced pluripotent stem cell, or iPS cell, technology.

This stringent test proves that iPS cells, which are made without creating or destroying an embryo, have the capacity to turn into every cell type in the body, like the controversial embryonic ones.

Kuldip Sidhu, the head of the Stem Cell Laboratory at the University of NSW, said, having succeeded in producing iPS cells from human skin, his team's next aim was to repeat the work using skin cells from patients.

"We are dealing with Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's," Professor Sidhu said.

These iPS cells from patients could be used to study the progression of the diseases or test for new drugs, but will not be suitable to treat patients until reliable new methods are developed for making iPS cells without having to use viruses.

"There is a fear the viruses may alter gene structure and induce cancer," he said.

Japanese and American researchers were the first to create human iPS cells only two years ago, by introducing four genes into skin cells to reprogram them to a more primitive state.

A Sydney team member, Henry Chung, who is developing ways to eliminate the need for viruses in the process, said iPS cells required a lot of care to produce and, like "babies", had to be fed every day.

"But under the right conditions they can grow forever," said Mr Chung, who was recently awarded the inaugural Dr Paul Brock Stem Cell Scholarship from the State Government, receiving $50,000 for his research.

American researchers report today in the journal Nature that they have created mice from skin cells, some of which went on to produce pups of their own.

The skin cells were first converted into iPS cells, which were then injected into cells that form a placenta, and then transferred to a surrogate mother.

The study, which would be illegal using human cells, provides independent confirmation of research by two Chinese teams late last month, who also used iPS cells to create mice.

Dr Andrew Laslett, of the Australian Stem Cell Centre in Melbourne, said it was too early to say whether iPS cells would be a better or safer alternative to embryonic stem cells, and research was needed to compare their properties.

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Stem Cell Lab (SCL) aquires Endeavour-2 line from South East Sydney Illawarra Area Health Services (SESIAHS) | May, 2009

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UNSW Student awarded Dr Paul Brock stem cell research scholarship | 25 April, 2009

University of New South Wales (UNSW) PhD student Henry Chung has been chosen as the inaugural winner of the NSW Government’s Paul Brock Scholarship for stem cell research.

Mr Chung is investigating the potential of stem cells – particularly Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS) - to treat people with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

iPS stem cells are cells that are treated to resemble embryonic stem cells in that they have the ability to regenerate and form into virtually any cell in the human body. It is hoped that iPS cells can eventually be used to replace or repair damaged or diseased cells. > full media release

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UNSW approves human somatic cell nuclear transfer (therapeutic cloning) research | 6 February, 2009

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Dean's visit to SCL | 23rd July, 2008

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Neural Stem Cell Interest Group (NSCIG) launched | 2nd June, 2008
- Professor Kuldip Sidhu/ Professor Perminder Sachdev convenors

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Dr Amelia Marutle from Karolinska Institute Sweden visited SCL | 26-30th May, 2008

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Stem Cell Lab (SCL) formally commissioned | 20th March, 2008