The partnership will focus on research and knowledge in Induced pluripotent stem cells derived from adult fibroblasts and can be induced to have the ability to become any cell type in the body

Under the direction of Adjunct Professor of Stem Cell Biology at REMEDI, Dr Alan Colman, who is based at the A*STAR Institute of Medical Biology in Singapore, researchers at REMEDI will undergo training in how to make human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) using as the starting material skin biopsy material or other tissues (e.g. blood) that are available from human patients and volunteers. These iPS cells share many, if not all, the properties of human embryonic stem cells but are less controversial.  iPS can be made from patients suffering from most congenital diseases and can be exploited both to learn more about the disease process as well as providing a virtually inexhaustible source of desired cell types for drug screening and discovery.

REMEDI researchers will be trained in Dr Colman’s lab in Singapore where the specialist technology is established.  It is planned that researchers once trained will return to Ireland and via national collaborations will engage in transfer technology partnerships with Irish researchers.

For more information, visit www.sscc.a-star.edu.sg