June 17, 2008

STEM CELL RESEARCH IN ONTARIO

Stem cells were discovered in the early 1960s by Dr. Ernest McCulloch and Dr. James Till, two scientists working at the Ontario Cancer Institute. Ontario continues to be a leader in stem cell research today.

The province is home to the Stem Cell Network, made up of 80 experts drawn from universities and hospitals across Canada.

Stem cells are a special class of cells that can be grown into different types of tissues for use in medical applications. Regenerative medicine harnesses the power of stem cells to repair, regenerate or replace diseased cells, tissues and organs.

The techniques of regenerative medicine are already in use, such as bone marrow transplants used to treat leukemia. Scientists believe that regenerative medicine will one day be used to treat other cancers and repair damage to the heart or spinal cord.

Among the different types of stem cells are adult and embryonic. Embryonic stem cells help an embryo develop into a foetus, while adult stem cells help the body repair itself. Embryonic stem cells can be transformed into many kinds of tissues.

ONTARIO–CALIFORNIA COLLABORATION

California is another jurisdiction leading the way in stem cell research.

Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, a Japanese researcher, has discovered a method to induce human skin cells to change into the kind of stem cells that were formerly created from embryos. The discovery paves the way for a future in which doctors may use a patient’s own skin cells to treat a variety of major illnesses. The Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease in California is leading efforts to implement this technology, in partnership with Dr. Yamanaka.

Ontario is investing $1-million to advance research based on Dr. Yamanaka’s discovery. Ontario researchers have developed the technology and expertise to produce these cells in quantity. The investment will help University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Gladstone Institute researchers take the next steps to translate Dr. Yamanaka’s discovery into practical medical treatments.

The collaboration will enhance opportunities to exchange technology and information and build knowledge through cross-institute training.

This is the second time in two years that Ontario and California have joined forces to support stem cell research. In May 2007, Ontario announced an investment of $30 million in a new Cancer Stem Cell Consortium — a collaborative project with California scientists — in partnership with the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, headquartered at the MaRS centre in Toronto.