A new network to coordinate and promote the UK's stem cell science effort has been launched today. The UK National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN) aims to bring new coordination and coherence to national and regional stem cell research efforts. By improving the coordination of research across the various disciplines of UK stem cell research, and by acting as a focus and a voice for the UK stem cell research community, the UKNSCN aims to enhance basic research and to help speed its translation into clinical applications.
Malcolm Wicks, Minister for Science, will say at a launch event in London later today: "Stem cell research is an area which offers the potential to provide cures for some of our most debilitating diseases, which affect so many families. The UKNSCN offers a great chance for experts to work together, sharing knowledge and technology across the research community. I'm sure it will help us as we strive to maintain the UK's place as a world leader in this area of science."
In addition to coordinating the UK's numerous national and regional stem cell research initiatives, the UKNSCN will help to bring together and improve communication between the various sub-disciplines of stem cell science. The Network aims to become the focal point for communication about stem cell research to the public and industry. It also aims to become the national voice of stem cell science to policy makers and act as the main initial point of contact for overseas researchers and promoting the uptake and use of stem cells by scientific, business and medical communities.
Lord Naren Patel of Dunkeld is the first chair of the UKNSCN Steering Committee. He comments: "The UK is one of the world's leading nations for stem cell science but we have to ensure that as we move closer to real applications to help patients that all our scientists are pulling together in a coordinated effort. The UK National Stem Cell Network will give focus and a unified voice to stem cell science. We need to make sure that the Government and the public know about the excellent stem cell research being done in labs all over the UK and that we maintain the support needed to keep the UK at the forefront of this exciting, ground-breaking area of science. The Network will work with the researchers, the health service and industry to help turn first class research in the labs into therapies for patients in our hospitals."
The UK's stem cell research community has a strong historical foundation going back to the first isolation of embryonic stem cells in Cambridge over a quarter of a century ago by Professor Sir Martin Evans. Since this seminal advance, the UK has continued to be world leading in stem cell research, establishing centres of excellence across the country including the Wellcome Centre for Stem Cell Research in Cambridge, the Institute for Stem Cell Research in Edinburgh and the Centre for Life in Newcastle, and by setting up the first national stem cell bank in 2002.
Contact
UKNSCN Senior Programme Manager
Ben Sykes, Tel: 01793 414676, email: uksa@uknscn.org
Notes to Editors
The UKNSCN is the research community's response to a Government review in 2005 which called for a new network to bring together the various sub-disciplines of UK stem cell science.
Following an online consultation and a town meeting in summer 2006 the community agreed the establishment of the UKNSCN for an initial period of two years and agreed its initial activities.
UKNSCN will be holding its first Annual Science Meeting in April 2008, where current status and methods to improve coordination of multidisciplinary research will be assessed.
About the UK National Stem Cell Network
The UK National Stem Cell Network is designed to act as a network of the existing regional stem cell networks in the UK, to bring coordination and coherence to a range of national and regional activities in the field of stem cell research.
The UKNSCN secretariat receives financial support from four of the UK Research Councils:
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
The Network represents the UK stem cell research community and is run through an independent Steering Committee. Initially, the secretariat is operated by BBSRC on behalf of all the Government sponsors of stem cell research, including Research Councils, the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Department of Health, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Office of Science and Innovation.