Bernama,
May 20, 2008
Malaysia Sees Potential
In Tissue Banking
KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- The development of
the science of tissue banking in Malaysia will
contribute substantially to the biotechnology sector
as it could lower the cost for Malaysian patients in
need of such care.
Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood, chief executive
officer of Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp),
said today that for the development of tissue
banking, Malaysia needs to industriously complement
the efforts of the National Tissue Bank and Nuclear
Malaysia in stepping up commercialisation of tissue
banking.
The Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Technology
Report 2007 published by Visiongain estimates the
market for future tissue engineered products,
including regeneration of bone, cartilage and other
connective structural treatments, at US$5 billion
globally, he said.
"The market value of tissue banking could contribute
to the Malaysian economy even though there are no
definitive numbers as yet for Asia or the Asia
Pacific, but the growth of the business in key
markets in India and China is more than positive,"
he said.
According to NovaSterilis, a US company which
provides sterilisation technology for medical
devices and human tissue, indicated that the US
tissue bank market was worth US$400 million last
year, he said.
"Tissue banking offers exciting possibilities in
managing complex bone and cartilage diseases, spinal
cord injuries and other serious injuries. It also
prolongs life and adds meaningful years of freedom
and mobility not only for the elderly but also for
our children and youth by crippling diseases," he
told a press conference here on the forthcoming 5th
World Congress on Tissue Banking.
Malaysia's National Tissue Bank is recognised for
producing safe, high quality tissue grafts in a wide
field of application for burns, orthopaedic,
microsurgery, facial, dental and paediatric surgery,
according to Iskandar.
The National Tissue Bank's research & development
activities had achieved outstanding international
work, with more than 40 research findings in
amniotic membranes, bone grafts, trauma and
reconstruction.
"Integrated research is also conducted in
bio-materials, tissue engineering and stem cells,"
he said.
Meanwhile Iskandar said that with the contribution
of Nuclear Malaysia and other Malaysian
participants, the 5th World Congress on Tissue
Banking here on June 3-5 will feature speakers from
20 countries including the US, Cuba, UK, Germany,
Belgium, Poland, Russia, India, Korea and Hong Kong. |
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