I have been excited at Prof. Yamanaka’s winning
of Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. It is not only me. Everyone in Japan has
been excited and encouraged. His award gives us a hope even in such a prolonged
depression, making me feel like writing about iPS cells.
The
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced Friday
a new road map showing target times to practically use induced pluripotent stem
cells (iPS cells).
The
road map, established in 2009 for the first time, has been revised due to advance
in research. In addition to renewal of a targeted timing to kick off clinical trials,
the new map aims to establish technologies to create three-dimensional organs with
tissue structures for the liver and the cornea within five years and for the kidney
and the lung within ten years.
Advanced
research in creating organs in the past three years has already brought a report
of generation of the retina and the pituitary gland with 3-D structures.
Concerning
clinical trials, goals have been set for 14 stages including a practical application
of retinal cells derived from iPS cells to age-related macular degeneration treatments,
being accelerated about two years earlier in research to generate red blood
cells. Also in the planned iPS cells storage and supply center, “iPS cells stock,”
led by Center for iPS Cell Research and Application of Kyoto University, the revised
road map showed that the facility will establish the stock within two years and
begin supplying iPS cells and their derivatives in two to three years.
Congratulations on posting the first article! Yes, Professor Yamanaka's astonishing work has certainly cheered us up. We really hope that these advanced technology will be put into practical use in the very near future for people around the globe.
ReplyDelete