Diabetes group looks outside U.S. for stem cell research

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation hopes its partnership with Singapore will identify and create insulin-producing cells.

By Andis Robeznieks, AMNews staff. Nov. 17, 2003.

When it comes to human embryonic stem cell research, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation said it puts its money where the scientists ask for it. As a result, more of the stem cell research it funds is being done overseas.

Last month, JDRF entered into a $3 million partnership with Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research and cited that nation's "more favorable" research climate as a reason for doing so. This continues a foreign stem cell research funding trend for JDRF. In the fiscal year that ended July 31, the foundation spent $3 million on human embryonic stem cell research, and $2 million of that was spent outside the United States.

"JDRF has, to date, received very few [stem cell research] applications from research groups in the U.S.," said JDRF Associate Director Marc S. Hurlbert, PhD. "The climate around human embryonic stem cell research in the U.S.A. has hampered U.S.-based researchers working in this field."

Dr. Hurlbert said JDRF's research in Singapore would include identifying human stem cells capable of forming insulin-secreting cells and directing those stem cells into becoming insulin-producing cells suitable for human use.

JDRF already has partnerships in Sweden and the United Kingdom, and Dr. Hurlbert said a request for applications put out in Sweden resulted in a deluge of grant applications. "[W]e had so many meritorious responses, we couldn't fund them all," he said.

In contrast, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research reports that most of its stem cell research is being conducted stateside.