U.S. iPS research chases Japan / Pioneer says Japanese institutions
need to cooperate to win race
Tatsuya Kimura and Hiroshige Yazawa / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers
Competition among scientists is intensifying over research into human
induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, which have been
separately created by teams at Kyoto University and Wisconsin
University in the United States.
However, Japan, which was the first to achieve the milestone, may be
overtaken by the United States, which has many researchers and
necessary facilities in the field.
"Let me liken the iPS research to the ekiden relay road race. In
Japan, I've kept running alone, and I'm already out of breath," said
Kyoto University Prof. Shinya Yamanaka, who was the world's first to
create iPS cells. "Japan needs to take away walls [that exist]
between research institutes and universities and create a team to
counter the United States, which has many runners to pass the baton."
On Friday, Yamanaka separately met Education, Science and Technology
Minister Kisaburo Tokai and Fumio Kishida, state minister in charge
of science and technology policy, and explained the fierce
competition between Japan and the United States in this research
field, emphasizing the importance of creating the opportunities and
appropriate conditions for Japanese researchers to collaborate.
Japanese researchers are afraid Japan will fall behind in the
research sweepstakes, as major U.S. universities have institutions
well placed to promote regenerative medical studies, while few of
their Japanese counterparts do.
When a U.S. research team from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and other institutions announced study results on improving anemia in
mice using iPS cells, Yamanaka admitted he lost the battle.
Konrad Hochedlinger, an assistant professor who heads a research team
at Harvard University, along with Wisconsin University an
international base for regenerative medicine, said Dec. 4 his team
nearly succeeded in creating human iPS cells. The Wisconsin
University announced identical research results as Yamanaka at the
same time.
He also said that as far as he knew, six research institutes had
created human iPS cells in the two weeks after Nov. 20, when
Yamanaka's research results were reported around the world.
Hochedlinger'
announced in August he had become the first person to create iPS
cells from a mouse.
Hochedlinger said Yamanaka's announcement drastically changed the
world's regenerative medical field. Hochedlinger attracted attention
in June, when he announced the creation of improved iPS cells from a
mouse.
Hochedlinger said Yamanaka would lead the competition in the short
term. But he said many U.S. researchers would catch up with Yamanaka
within a few years because U.S. research institutes have more
abundant financial resources than their Japanese counterparts and
many talented scientists from around the world conduct their work in
the United States.
Hochedlinger also emphasized the U.S. institutional ability to gather
abundant information and create strong networks, which makes it
easier to conduct joint research. His Harvard team cooperates with
MIT and other institutes, he added.
"Money and talent will decide the result of the competition,
Junying Yu, a doctor who leads research at Wisconsin University.
Also, the conditions seem to be falling into place for U.S.
researchers.
The White House, which has criticized research into embryonic stem
cells created from fertilized eggs, has decided to support research
into human iPS cells, because there is no ethical controversy about
iPS cells, which can be created from skin cells.
The New York Times criticized the administration of U.S. President
George W. Bush for its restrictions on the research of embryonic stem
cells, saying in an editorial that the next U.S. president should
lift such restrictions and support research into human iPS cells.
Yamanaka said he started to feel threatened by the U.S. researchers'
mounting charge in October.
Yamanaka said he had heard Wisconsin University submitted to a
science journal an essay on its success in creating human iPS cells.
For the two months from his return to Japan until the day he
announced his paper, he busied himself giving instructions to his
researchers during daytime and responding to calls from science
magazines at night.
Yamanaka, who created human iPS cells in July, was compelled to
announce his paper earlier than scheduled because research value
partly depends on being first, especially when similar, competing
research is being conducted.
He seldom slept or rested until he submitted his paper, which was
accepted only eight days after submission. As a result, the study was
announced at the same time as its U.S. counterpart'
In August, Yamanaka set up his research lab in the United States,
where it is easier to use embryonic stem cells.
Competition to make the earliest announcement of research results is
getting fiercer, especially when the matter of intellectual property
rights enters the equation.
Hisamitsu Arai, former secretary general of the Cabinet Secretariat'
Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters, said rules to govern the
field need to be drawn up as soon as possible.
"In the United States, there's a consensus that patents should be
approved soon after the application is made so people can go into
business with the patent and use it for clinical applications,
said. "However, in Japan, rules for medical patents are not clear."
"If the patents for technologies, though developed in Japan, are
applied for in and granted by the United States, medical-bill
revenues paid by Japanese patients will go to the United States,"
Tokyo University of Science Prof. Yumi Ogose said.
"We should gather leading figures in Japan in each field to support
Prof. Yamanaka," Keio University Prof. Hideyuki Okano said.
The government and academic society should give continuous support to
research activities that are born in Japan and attract the world's
attention.
===
IPS cell work 'worthy of Nobel'
Hidenori Akutsu of the National Center for Child Health and
Development and other researchers applaud the creation of human iPS
cells as worthy of the Nobel Prize because it has no ethical problem
and can recreate cells without causing rejection.
To create iPS cells, three to four kinds of genes are introduced into
the patient's skin cells or other somatic cells. The somatic
cells' "clock" is reset and imbued with the potential to become cells
of various body organs.
Embryonic stem cells have similar potential, but are surrounded by
ethical controversy as they are created by destroying fertilized
eggs, which are the germs of life. Also, as embryonic stem cells are
created by using donor cells from other people, they can cause
rejection in the patient.
IPS cells not only solve these problems but have additional merits.
If the technique to reset the cells is applied to drugs, it is
possible to recreate cells of an disease-damaged organ without
resorting to a transplant.
The technique also is useful for developing new drugs and confirming
drugs' efficacy.
New drugs' adverse effects and safety can be confirmed through organs
made from iPS cells. Also, the efficacy of drugs used upon sick cells
can be confirmed using iPS cells made from the patient's skin.
(Dec. 11, 2007)
U.S. iPS research chases Japan / Pioneer says Japanese institutions
need to cooperate to win race
Tatsuya Kimura and Hiroshige Yazawa / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers
Competition among scientists is intensifying over research into human
induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, which have been
separately created by teams at Kyoto University and Wisconsin
University in the United States.
However, Japan, which was the first to achieve the milestone, may be
overtaken by the United States, which has many researchers and
necessary facilities in the field.
"Let me liken the iPS research to the ekiden relay road race. In
Japan, I've kept running alone, and I'm already out of breath," said
Kyoto University Prof. Shinya Yamanaka, who was the world's first to
create iPS cells. "Japan needs to take away walls [that exist]
between research institutes and universities and create a team to
counter the United States, which has many runners to pass the baton."
On Friday, Yamanaka separately met Education, Science and Technology
Minister Kisaburo Tokai and Fumio Kishida, state minister in charge
of science and technology policy, and explained the fierce
competition between Japan and the United States in this research
field, emphasizing the importance of creating the opportunities and
appropriate conditions for Japanese researchers to collaborate.
Japanese researchers are afraid Japan will fall behind in the
research sweepstakes, as major U.S. universities have institutions
well placed to promote regenerative medical studies, while few of
their Japanese counterparts do.
When a U.S. research team from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and other institutions announced study results on improving anemia in
mice using iPS cells, Yamanaka admitted he lost the battle.
Konrad Hochedlinger, an assistant professor who heads a research team
at Harvard University, along with Wisconsin University an
international base for regenerative medicine, said Dec. 4 his team
nearly succeeded in creating human iPS cells. The Wisconsin
University announced identical research results as Yamanaka at the
same time.
He also said that as far as he knew, six research institutes had
created human iPS cells in the two weeks after Nov. 20, when
Yamanaka's research results were reported around the world.
Hochedlinger'
announced in August he had become the first person to create iPS
cells from a mouse.
Hochedlinger said Yamanaka's announcement drastically changed the
world's regenerative medical field. Hochedlinger attracted attention
in June, when he announced the creation of improved iPS cells from a
mouse.
Hochedlinger said Yamanaka would lead the competition in the short
term. But he said many U.S. researchers would catch up with Yamanaka
within a few years because U.S. research institutes have more
abundant financial resources than their Japanese counterparts and
many talented scientists from around the world conduct their work in
the United States.
Hochedlinger also emphasized the U.S. institutional ability to gather
abundant information and create strong networks, which makes it
easier to conduct joint research. His Harvard team cooperates with
MIT and other institutes, he added.
"Money and talent will decide the result of the competition,
Junying Yu, a doctor who leads research at Wisconsin University.
Also, the conditions seem to be falling into place for U.S.
researchers.
The White House, which has criticized research into embryonic stem
cells created from fertilized eggs, has decided to support research
into human iPS cells, because there is no ethical controversy about
iPS cells, which can be created from skin cells.
The New York Times criticized the administration of U.S. President
George W. Bush for its restrictions on the research of embryonic stem
cells, saying in an editorial that the next U.S. president should
lift such restrictions and support research into human iPS cells.
Yamanaka said he started to feel threatened by the U.S. researchers'
mounting charge in October.
Yamanaka said he had heard Wisconsin University submitted to a
science journal an essay on its success in creating human iPS cells.
For the two months from his return to Japan until the day he
announced his paper, he busied himself giving instructions to his
researchers during daytime and responding to calls from science
magazines at night.
Yamanaka, who created human iPS cells in July, was compelled to
announce his paper earlier than scheduled because research value
partly depends on being first, especially when similar, competing
research is being conducted.
He seldom slept or rested until he submitted his paper, which was
accepted only eight days after submission. As a result, the study was
announced at the same time as its U.S. counterpart'
In August, Yamanaka set up his research lab in the United States,
where it is easier to use embryonic stem cells.
Competition to make the earliest announcement of research results is
getting fiercer, especially when the matter of intellectual property
rights enters the equation.
Hisamitsu Arai, former secretary general of the Cabinet Secretariat'
Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters, said rules to govern the
field need to be drawn up as soon as possible.
"In the United States, there's a consensus that patents should be
approved soon after the application is made so people can go into
business with the patent and use it for clinical applications,
said. "However, in Japan, rules for medical patents are not clear."
"If the patents for technologies, though developed in Japan, are
applied for in and granted by the United States, medical-bill
revenues paid by Japanese patients will go to the United States,"
Tokyo University of Science Prof. Yumi Ogose said.
"We should gather leading figures in Japan in each field to support
Prof. Yamanaka," Keio University Prof. Hideyuki Okano said.
The government and academic society should give continuous support to
research activities that are born in Japan and attract the world's
attention.
===
IPS cell work 'worthy of Nobel'
Hidenori Akutsu of the National Center for Child Health and
Development and other researchers applaud the creation of human iPS
cells as worthy of the Nobel Prize because it has no ethical problem
and can recreate cells without causing rejection.
To create iPS cells, three to four kinds of genes are introduced into
the patient's skin cells or other somatic cells. The somatic
cells' "clock" is reset and imbued with the potential to become cells
of various body organs.
Embryonic stem cells have similar potential, but are surrounded by
ethical controversy as they are created by destroying fertilized
eggs, which are the germs of life. Also, as embryonic stem cells are
created by using donor cells from other people, they can cause
rejection in the patient.
IPS cells not only solve these problems but have additional merits.
If the technique to reset the cells is applied to drugs, it is
possible to recreate cells of an disease-damaged organ without
resorting to a transplant.
The technique also is useful for developing new drugs and confirming
drugs' efficacy.
New drugs' adverse effects and safety can be confirmed through organs
made from iPS cells. Also, the efficacy of drugs used upon sick cells
can be confirmed using iPS cells made from the patient's skin.
(Dec. 11, 2007)
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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