Lifesaving stem cell treatments must be offered in Ireland, says expert

Ireland is seriously lagging behind most other countries in offering live-saving treatments provided by the use of adult stem cells, a leading international medical expert has warned.

Colin McGuckin called on the Government and health authorities to facilitate the wider collection and storage of stem cells from umbilical cord blood in Ireland.

Prof McGuckin — who is advisor to the Vatican on stem cells and a director of the Cell Therapy Research Institute in Lyon, France — is director of the Adult Stem Cell Foundation of Ireland, which was formally launched yesterday.