Ottawa becoming hub for stem cell research thanks to collaborative approach

Ottawa is becoming a hub for stem cell researchthanks to a collaborative approach that allows scientists to easily turnresearch into clinical trials, said scientists at a Stem Cell 101 forum held Tuesday evening at the Ottawa Hospital's Civic campus.

The city onlyhas 25 stem cell scientists compared to Toronto's 115 but is on par with places like California, which spends billions of dollars in the field, according tothe Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

"They're doing it right here. They're putting all the right pieces together to make Ottawa a real powerhouse in stem cell research," says LisaWillemse, a senior communications advisor.

Canada has long been considereda world leader in stemcell researchin part because the field was pioneered here in 1961, when Dr. James Till and Dr. ErnestMcCulloch discovered the existence of stem cells at the Toronto-based Ontario Cancer Institute.

Stem cell research success

In Ottawa, researchers recentlyused stem cells to treat septic shock, and a study at the University of Ottawa found that duchenne muscular dystrophy affects stem cells.

Clinical trials are also underway inother areas including multiple sclerosis and heart attacks.

"Sometimes when science gets too big it becomes siloed," said Dr. Bill Stanford, a senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa.

"Right here in Ottawa people work together instead of working by themselves and that makes things go much faster and better."

Stanford was one of three physicians who spoke at a public forum Tuesday night.

It was the fourth and final in a series of similar events across the province thataimedto answer a series of questions for those who attended, including what kind of stemcell treatments are being developed and which ones are likely to be delivered in the future.

Dr. Harry Atkins,a physician at the OttawaHospital's blood and marrow transport program,calls the city a fertile ground for research.

"Things like muscle stem cells to repair problems with the muscles, or problems with the heartI think that's going to be the next big thing that goes on in Ottawa," he said.