Source: National Station: CTV-N1

Program: News Time: 22:13 Date: 13 August 2001

STEM CELL RESEARCH PAULA NEWTON (CTV): Canadian scientists say they've scored a major breakthrough in stem cell research. Scientists at Montreal's McGill University have successfully reproduced stem cells from adult human skin. John Musselman now has more. JOHN MUSSELMAN (Reporter): It's never been done before and it offers new hope for people suffering from brain disorders. Researchers at McGill University have taken stem cells from adult human skin that can be converted into brain cells. The discovery offers new hope to people suffering from neurological disorders. It also offers an alternative source of stem cells other than using human embryos. Researchers say that stem cells that can produce brain cells have been discovered before, but this is the first time they have been reproduced from stem cells 'in the skin. It's considered a significant breakthrough, because patients receiving new tissue from stem cells from their own skin would face fewer problems of rejection. NEWTON: With more on stem cell research we're joined by Dr. Ronald Worton, CEO and scientific director of the Ottawa Health Research Institute. He's also head of Canada's Stem Cell Network. Dr. Worton, thanks for joining us. DR. RONALD WORTON: (Ottawa Health Research Institute): You're welcome, glad to be here. NEWTON: These new developments, they are quite exciting. Does this mean that, in fact, Canada will play a significant role globally in stem cell research in the years to come? WORTON: We expect Canada to play a very significant role globally in years to come. We already have quite a lot of expertise in stem cell research in the country. Not a lot of people, but very, very good people who have made major discoveries in this area. And within the last six months or so we have formed this Stem Cell Network across Canada, as part of Canada's Networks of Centres of Excellence Program. This network involves 55 researchers from right across Canada, all the way from Vancouver to Halifax, and they will be examining a lot of aspects of stem cell biology, looking at the molecular properties of stem cells, trying to figure out what makes a stem cell a stem cell, what allows it to function in tissue regeneration. Because if we can control these functions we'll be able to do a lot more in terms of therapy. The network involves basic scientists who are working on stem cell biology, engineers who are working on growing stem cells in large amounts. It involves clinicians who are going to be involved in developing new therapies, and it even involves lawyers and ethicists who will be studying the ethical, social and legal issues, especially with regard to the use of embryonic stem cells, if we find that we have to sue those in our research. NEWTON: And quickly, Dr. Worton, speaking of those ethical issues, are you worried that we will, in fact, have the same kind of acrimonious debate here that we saw south of the border just recently? WORTON: I think undoubtedly there will be some of that because there's such a variety of opinions about the use of embryonic cells. There is currently legislation pending and guidelines from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research that we can certainly work with and will support, that would allow a limited amount of research using embryonic material, but would regulate it and would put into place a regulatory body that would oversee this research. So we feel quite comfortable that that's the way to go and that we can conduct the experiments under those guidelines. NEWTON: Okay, Dr. Worton, thanks for this information. WORTON: You're very welcome. Thank you.