aaus-list @ ukrainianstudies.org -- [aaus-list] Ukraine - breakthrough in stem cell research

["Aleks Kalashnik" <sanya3@hotmail.com>]

Ukrainian scientists report "breakthrough" in stem cell research
(BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union - Political)


Ukrainian scientists report "breakthrough" in stem cell research
Byline: Novyy Kanal television, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1600  3 Sep 02

UKRAINE --

Scientists in Ukraine say they have discovered a method of "replacing" 
immune system using embryonic stem cells. The following is an excerpt from 
report by Ukrainian Novyy Kanal television on 3 September:

  Ukrainian scientists have reported a breakthrough in stem cell research. 
They have developed a new mechanism of stem cell transplantation. Medics say 
the discovery could open a new chapter in the treatment of AIDS, leukaemia, 
Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, etc. However, sceptics note, it is still too 
early to say when the new method will be applied in practice. Svitlana 
Usenko reports:

  [Correspondent] The discovery makes it possible to treat the root
causes rather than the symptoms of the disease, the authors say. What
they propose is a complete replacement of the immune system achieved
by injecting embryonic stem cells into a patient's system. Doctors
say they have found a way to return an adult organism's immune system
back into fetal state.

  [Professor Oleksandr Kukharchuk, in Russian] We basically reinstall the 
body's immune system, and all the cells which were causing an antibody 
response stop being treated [by the immune system] as alien. This way we 
remove the immune aggression effect, and this is what makes our method 
unique.

  [Diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are believed to result from the 
immune system mistakenly identifying the body's cells as alien and killing 
them.]

  [Correspondent] So far, the research is based on experiments on rats and 
guinea pigs. More than 550 animals have been used over the course of the 
project. But scientists say the results of their research will soon be used 
to treat people. Studies on stem cells, which can turn into any type of 
cells in the body, are under way all over the world. The countries that lead 
the world in this area spend billions on stem cell research. But Ukrainian 
scientists say they have been the first to register such a discovery.

  [Viktor Sirman, deputy director-general of the EmCell centre for embryonic 
tissues] Despite the huge budgets of foreign researchers working in this 
area we are the ones who have made this discovery. And as of today, I can 
tell you that we really are Ukrainian scientists.


  [Passage omitted: ethical issues.]

Keywords: STEMCELLS


Novyy Kanal television, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1600  3 Sep 02, Ukrainian 
scientists report "breakthrough" in stem cell research. , BBC Monitoring 
Former Soviet Union - Political, 09-03-2002.





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