TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 06/10/11 -- Sixty-five stem cell research laboratories -- in Hamilton, London, Ottawa and Toronto -- have come together to launch a province-wide partnership aimed at making Canada an international leader in this revolutionary medical technology.
The partnership, known as the Ontario Stem Cell Initiative (OSCI), officially launches on Tuesday, June 14th at the University of Toronto.
Stem cell research has the potential of revolutionizing medicine because, unlike many traditional therapies, it addresses the underlying cause of disease. It's hoped that stem cell research can be used to stimulate previously irreparable organs into healing themselves, offering a potential treatment for previously incurable diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, or heart disease.
By bringing together 65 scientists -- and the research programs behind them -- with funding from the federal and provincial governments, Ontario is in a prime position to lead the world in this dynamic field. Dr. Janet Rossant, Director of OSCI, says the timing is right, "With this amazing team of scientists and support of our financial backers, OSCI is poised to lead stem cell biology beyond the next frontier."
The density of stem cell scientists in Ontario is one of the highest in the world. Collectively, this network of scientists has secured more than $25 million in funding from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and Ontario Research Fund to support cutting edge facilities and infrastructure and an additional $20 million in funding from the Ontario Research Fund for major collaborative projects.
One of OSCI's goals is to train the next generation of scientists. The inaugural winners of the OSCI International Postdoctoral Fellowship Competition, funded by the Ontario Innovation Trust, will be announced at the launch on June 14th.
The international calibre of OSCI's scientists has led to partnerships with stem cell researchers in California and Japan. Funding to further enhance these initiatives has been awarded by the Ministry of Research and Innovation. A Canada-Japan workshop will take place in Toronto during the meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research on June 15-18th.
OSCI's partnership with the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) is focused on translating scientific discovery into products and therapies to treat patients. Stem cell therapies are one of the main components of regenerative medicine. OSCI's researchers lead the scientific discovery while CCRM provides the strategic business expertise and strong links to industry required for commercialization. Together with their partners, OSCI and CCRM will deliver on the promise to make Canada the leader in regenerative medicine. OSCI and CCRM are celebrating their respective launches together on June 14th at the University of Toronto.
OSCI's mission is to enhance international stem cell science, promote international research partnerships, and lead the translation of stem cell research into improved health and economic growth in Ontario.
Contacts:
Ontario Stem Cell Initiative
Sandra Donaldson
Program Manager
416.978.0553 or Cell: 647.926.1228
sandra.donaldson@ontariostemcell.ca
www.ontariostemcell.ca
