Bernama,
April 07, 2008
15 Malaysians For Stem
Cell Training In India
KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) -- BioNexus-status
company Stempeutics Research Malaysia will send its
first batch of 15 Malaysian employees to Bangalore,
India, this month to undergo hands-on wet lab and
theory training on stem cells.
They will be trained under the Stem Cells
Operational & Professional Excellence (SCOPE)
programme to prepare them for the Stempeutics stem
cell lab at Technology Park Malaysia which will be
operational next month.
Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp) is
the main supporter of the SCOPE programme which its
chief executive officer Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood
described as a significant step forward for Malaysia
in development of biotechnology industry.
"This is important Malaysia has been identified as a
market with exciting potential in stem cell research
and therapy, estimated at US$157 million with
year-on-year growth of 12 percent," he said at a
press conference after the launch of the SCOPE
training programme here Monday.
Iskandar said the SCOPE programme by Stempeutics was
part of talent creation in the field of stem cells
with focus on cutting-edge research, therapeutics
and therapy in the field of regenerative medicine.
"It is a significant step with multiple benefits --
enhancing foreign direct investment of up to RM20
million to Malaysia, a wealth of resource in
international research and expertise, and expanding
access and exposure for Malaysian talent in stem
cell research," he said.
A subsidiary of India-based Manipal Education &
Medical Group, Stempeutics was established to
promote stem cell activities in Malaysia.
Stempeutics' president B.N. Manohar said while the
first batch will undergo stem cell training in
Bangalore, future batches will be trained at the
Stempeutics facility in Kuala Lumpur.
"We are sure that this specialised training will
help to create good talents in Malaysia in the area
of biotechnology," he said. |
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