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Our Bureau

Mumbai , Sept. 16

Stem-cell research and therapy is on the radar of the armed forces. The Mumbai-based Navy Hospital, INHS Asvini, has started using stem-cell treatment in adults, Surgeon Vice-Admiral V.K. Singh, Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services, has said . Stem-cell treatment is used in indications such as blood disorders, cancers, and cardiac disorders.

While stem-cell treatment has been undertaken in the Army's R&R Hospital in Delhi for sometime now, he told newspersons that Pune's Armed Forces Medical College will commence a similar research and therapy by December. Three other centres in Pune, Bangalore and Kolkata are also slated to undertake stem-cell research and therapies soon, he said.

Embryonic stem-cell research is not currently being undertaken at the Navy Hospitalin Mumbai due to the ban on the same, he said. However, given that the future may allow embryonic stem-cell research, preparations were being made for stem-cell and cord-blood banks, he added.

Stem-cells are unspecialised cells that can be coaxed into developing like other cells in the body, such as the heart cells, brain and blood. And sections of the scientific community see such research providing a breakthrough in illnesses such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and cancer.

However, embryonic stem-cell research evokes strong ethical debates, since cells are got from foetal tissues.

A conference on `Stem-cells in War and Peace' is scheduled to take place at INHS Asvini on September 17. Meanwhile, the hospital is also expected to see an investment of Rs 100 crore in upgradation efforts, including the procurement of hi-tech equipment.

Funds would come from the Rs 500-crore kitty at its disposal, he said.

More Stories on : Health | Medical Institutions & Hospitals | Security

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