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Republic is ranked fourth for its focused efforts which have paid dividends
SINGAPORE is punching above its weight in human embryonic stem cell research, the cutting-edge and highly controversial field that holds the promise of cures for a range of diseases.
This is the conclusion of a study in the leading industry journal Cell Stem Cell, which ranked Singapore fourth behind Britain, Israel and China, after looking at papers published on breakthroughs in the field.
Singapore's global share of published work in this area is 2.9 per cent. Although small compared to the United States' 36 per cent, it is almost nine times more than what the city state is expected to produce, the study noted.
Together with Israel, Singapore was singled out for its focused research efforts which "appear to have paid dividends", said the report in the US journal.
An actual cure and profits from research in this field may be some way down the road, but scientists here say the study is a strong endorsement of Singapore's performance in a highly competitive arena.
Dr Alan Colman, executive director of A*Star's Singapore Stem Cell Consortium, said: "It is reassuring and great for Singapore to see independent and foreign affirmation of this welcome development."
The study identified the US, France and Japan as underperformers. The trio had one thing in common - an uncertain research environment.
This is because of the protracted policy debates over ethical issues such as harvesting stem cells from days-old embryos, which are destroyed in the process.
Singapore tackled the issue by being among the first to embrace the research with full government support and strict laws enacted to prevent abuse.
This climate helped attract the likes of Colombian clinician-researcher Eliana Martinez, 32, who came here because she was frustrated with constraints in the US.
"I learnt that Singapore is conducive for research and would not create frustrating blocks over the use of new cell lines," said the National University of Singapore researcher.
Singapore has moved from strength to strength since a jumpstart in 1993, when stem cell pioneer Ariff Bongso became the first to obtain the precious cells from days-old human embryos.
There are more than 40 groups doing stem cell research here. And since 2000, more than US$20 million (S$28 million) has been granted for such work.
Just yesterday, the Republic counted its latest coup: Researchers from the Genome Institute of Singapore and NUS uncovered over 3,000 hotspots - a treasure map of sorts, showing areas in the genetic blueprint of embryonic stem cells which help them maintain their special qualities.
The work, published in the journal Cell, was done on mouse stem cells, but could easily be moved on to human cells if successful.
Professor Lee Eng Hin, executive director of A*Star's Biomedical Research Council, said it was another sign that Singapore was on the right track in the biomedical sciences.
"It shows that with the right combination of factors such as strong government support, a robust legal and ethical framework, the right mix of dedicated talent and state-of-the- art research infrastructure, we have been able to make our mark in the international scientific arena."
Homegrown Breakthroughs
Stem cell and fertility expert Professor Ariff Bongso of the National University of Singapore was the first to pioneer techniques to derive stem cells from embryos.
Local biomedical firm ES Cell International created clinical-grade embryonic stem cells, which can be used safely in patients.
Bioprocessing Technology Institute researchers uncovered a protein that kills only embryonic stem cells. This will prevent the potential cancer risk of future stem cell cures.
Researchers from the Genome Institute of Singapore constructed the first "map" which highlighted the location of thousands of genetic switches that make a stem cell. The same team went on to uncover protein switches critical for maintaining such cells. |
