KGMU to start stem cell banking for chronically ill

LUCKNOW: Soon people in the state can get very low cost stem cell treatment for chronic diseases of blood and vital organs, and that too without providing their own stem cells.

King George’s Medical University (KGMU) has planned stem cell banking of the stem cells derived from the umbilical cord of children born at Queen Mary’s hospital.

“Stem cell treatment is a sure medicine for Thalassemia patients. Those suffering with endstage kidney or liver diseases can also benefit from the treatment. Apart from that stem cell treatment is beneficial for diabetes too,” said Prof Tulika Chandra, head of department, trans- fusion medicine at KGMU.

The proposal has been sent to the state government for approval and financial assistance, informed vice chancellor Prof Ravi Kant. As per the proposal, KGMU’s transfusion medicine department will develop the stem cell bank jointly with the department of gynaecology. A request of financial assistance of Rs 11 crore has been placed with the government that includes the cost of equipment needed to obtain and preserve stem cells along with manpower requirements.

The umbilical cords obtained will be processed to get the stem cells, which will then be stored for future need-based treatment of patients. The cost of the treatment will be minimal, the very lowest in the region, informed sources.

“There has been no such stem cell bank by the government sector in the region. Ours will be the first,” said Chandra.

The private sector stem cell banks offer storage facility for stem cells of children and provide the same to the depositors on individual basis, charging hefty amounts (about Rs 50,000 for 20 years of cord blood banking). These private banks are also located outside the state and transfer stem cells to different places.