Member Article

Top cell scientist lured to the region

A top international cell scientist has been lured to the region from Germany. Prof Karim Nayernia from the Georg-August University of Göttingen, Germany, was part of a team that was the first in the world to isolate a new type of stem cell from adult mouse testes (male sex glands) and turn them into heart, muscle, brain and other cells.Taking up his post as Professor of Stem Cell Biology at Newcastle University, Prof Karim will continue his pioneering work in the region, exploring whether similar cells could be extracted from men in order to treat a variety of illnesses. Although clinical applications such as this are a number of years away, Prof Nayernia’s arrival will broaden the portfolio of world-class research which is the hallmark of the region’s Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, where researchers are working on embryonic stem cells, stem cells from babies’ umbilical cord blood and other adult stem cells. Prof Nayernia said: “I’m extremely excited to be coming to the North East, which has an excellent global reputation for stem cell research. The move will give me the chance to take my research to its next level and to collaborate with a world-class team of stem cell researchers and clinicians while doing this. “The ultimate aim is to work towards developing therapies for a range of medical conditions afflicting patients worldwide, and I am sure the opportunities provided in the North East will bring me much closer to that goal.“Prof Nayernia will be bringing one fellow researcher with him from Germany and is due to appoint another when he arrives in Newcastle. Another top scientist, Prof Colin McGuckin, joined the ISCBRM last year. He is pursuing work using stem cells from babies’ umbilical cords with co-researcher Dr Nico Forraz. In May they announced a £160,000 deal with an American stem cell company, which will provide additional funding for their research.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .