Failure to legislate ‘will hurt research’

Even though stem cell manufacture has just been licensed in this country, the Government’s ongoing failure to legislate in this area means pharmaceutical giants will still be wary of investing here, according to an expert in stem cell therapy.

The Irish Medicines Board has just licensed a new facility, the Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland, to supply adult stem cells for use in research on arthritis, heart disease, diabetes and other conditions.

Once the stem cells are harvested from the bone marrow of adult donors, they are grown in the Galway laboratory to generate sufficient quantities.