Rediscovering a Lost Science?
A Brief Overview On Stem Cell Research in India

By: Vinod Scaria

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It is perhaps not just about creating ‘spare parts’ for Human beings. Stem cell research has grown at a breathtaking pace that any philosopher worth his salt would not attempt to predict the Future. When ethical jingoism predominates the scenario in the west , it is interesting to note that many eastern countries have made rapid strides to reap maximum benefits out of this interesting science. India, already widely acclaimed as the IT[Information technology] superpower, is all set to exploit the benefits of BT [Bio Technology] .This article is an overview of the Stem Cell research in this part of the world.

A lost science?

In Adi parva , one of the chapters of Mahabharata, it is said that Kauravas were created from pinda [ a ball of flesh] which Gandhari delivered after two years of pregnancy. It was then handed over to the sage Dwapayan , which was then divided into one hundred parts and treated with herbs and ghee. The pieces were then covered with cloth and kept in a chamber to cool for two years; out of which the Kauravas were born.” There cannot be any other explanation for this….” Says Dr Matapurkar of the Delhi Maulana Azad Medical College.

The ancient sages of India must have perfected the art of regenerating entire human beings from cells. In fact Mahabharata clearly describes the various stages of processing pieces of flesh, which is infact closely comparable to modern techniques of harvesting and processing embryonic stem cells.[sans the sophistication!] . Perhaps stem cell research was altogether a lost science of ancient India.

The rediscovery:

Stem cell research in India made it to the headlines when the US department of health disclosed its interest in funding stem cell research in two Indian Centres-the Reliance Life Sciences[RLS} and the National Centre for Biological sciences[NCBS].

The Reliance life Sciences[RLS] ; backed by the industry major Reliance Ltd ranks third among the top-10 institutes worldwide working on stem cells, as stated by NIH of the US and that too came just when the RLS was just 8months old!.The center is headed by Dr Firuza Parikh , the creator of the first ICSI[Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection]child in India.

The National center for biological sciences had been working on stem cells for quite long.[since 1999] and has three documented stem cell lines.

Another major institute involved in stem cell research in India is the L.V.Prasad Eye Institute, based at Hyderabad. The Institute caught the headlines recently when its doctors succeeded in transplanting a stem cell derived cornea to a patient who had lost his cornea- a treatment option available only in the US at that time.

The Maulana Azad Medical college, Delhi is yet another major institution involved in stem cell research.; and studies here are led by Dr Balakrishna Matapurkar, one of the pioneers of stem cell research in India.

The Indian BT Boom:

Recently the Ruby Hall Medical Research Centre, a subsidiary of Pune-based Ruby Hall Clinic, and Denmark-based biotechnology company Mesibo are soon to form a 49:51 joint venture with an aim to establish India’s largest cord blood storage facility at Pune. This is apart from other Pharma majors in the country setting up their own stem cell and BT research centres all over the country.

These measures got a pat on the back when NIH announced its interest in funding research in stem cells in the country.

Ethics: the Indian Perspective:

When ethical jingoism dominated the scenario in the west, eastern countries like India and Singapore were taking rapid strides to reap the benefits of this science to the maximum possible extent.

Unlike the public opinion in the west, which is against researches in this field, the public opinion in many eastern countries including India is far more supportive. This may be partly due to the scientific temper inculcated by the epics, and innumerous religious texts which are in fact acclaimed worldwide for their scientific value.

This openness is reflected in the Indian Department of Biotechnology [DBT]’s statement that India is open to stem Cell research ; and it promptly made regulatory provisions to control unethical practices, and in fact pioneered in bringing up a widely acceptable legal framework for research.

Conclusions:

India has emerged as one of the major countries involved in Stem cell research. A country which succeeded in becoming an IT superpower is also trying to replicate its success in BT. Apart from the pride and prestige earned by researchers in the country, the researches in BT are adding more horsepower to the booming economy of the country. India having an enviable combination of manpower and infrastructure, is also involved in co-operations with other countries thus promoting the free flow of information gained through research and their utilisation in the betterment of Human lives.

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