Vatican-backed stem cell research wins $1.2-M US grant

by Kerry Sheridan, Agence France-Presse Posted on 09/13/2013 11:48 PM |Updated 09/14/2013 12:08 AM

PROMISING. Stem cells as seen on a computer screen at the University of Connecticut`s (UConn) Stem Cell Institute at the UConn Health Center on August 27, 2010 in Farmington, Connecticut, USA. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP

WASHINGTON DC, USA - A Vatican-backed US company that researches an alternative to embryonic stem cells on Friday received a $1.2-million-dollar government grant, despite independent studies that question whether their product exists.

NeoStem, a New Jersey-headquartered company, is investigating very small embryonic-like (VSEL) cells found in adult bone marrow that they say may be able to regrow into different kinds of tissue.

The research has stirred controversy due to NeoStem's marketing partnership with the Vatican and because three independent studies have been unable to confirm the cells are even there.

The latest peer-reviewed grant, totaling $1,221,854, was provided by the US National Institutes of Health for research on an experimental drug that could regenerate bone tissue damaged by periodontitis, a serious gum disease.

The company, along with other partner institutions, has already received $4.5 million in government research grants, including from the Department of Defense and the NIH.

The NIH did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

"We are very excited about our progress towards the IND (investigational new drug) submission for what we expect to be the first human clinical study for our VSEL Technology and for the support of the NIH," said a statement by NeoStem chief executive Robin Smith.

The phase two trial could begin later this year or early next, and would be conducted in cooperation with investigators at the University of Michigan, the company said.

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Vatican-backed stem cell research wins $1.2-M US grant