Cell-based therapy keeps heart beating

 

Prof. Yoshiki Sawa presented the results after Japan gave its nod for his technology, which led to the approval of such treatments in Japan in the 10th Anniversary of Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM), the NCRM NICHE 2015 in Chennai.

 

Dr K.M. Cherian (chairman, Frontier Lifeline Hospitals) also opined that Autologous Stem Cells in their experience has been safe. Lauding the work done by Yoshiki Sawa he said, “ Such a technological collaboration between institutes in Japan and hospitals in India would be of great help to ailing patients with end stage Heart Failure in India”. He also informed that treatment will cost around Rs 1.5 lakh and nearly 70 per cent of the patients on whom this treatment was conducted responded positively to it.

 

Age is no bar and those belonging to the higher age group (more than 60) can also go for it. “Bridging the technological divide between institutes in both the countries will not only help the speciality of cardiology but also other specialities like ophthalmology,” said Dr Sujata Mohanty, professor of Stem Cell Unit, AIIMS, New Delhi.

 

“I had gone for a training to Kyoto. One of the pioneering works done by Japan is iPS (Induced pluripotent stem cells) cells. We need to learn from them and how to grow iPS cells and use it for in eye care and other areas of regeneration”, she added.

 

Also, the 10th edition of the exclusive national level quiz competition on stem cells for the prestigious Fujio Cup was also conducted and Manipal Institute of Regenerative Medicine from Bangalore was crowned champions.