Stem Cell Sciences wins EU funding

Stem Cell Sciences says that it is to lead a European Union funded, multinational novel drug screening collaboration using stem cells. The project, named NEUROscreen, will use Stem Cell Sciences' proprietary neural stem cell technology and has received a contribution from the EU's 6th Framework Program for Research and Technical Development (FP6). The EU's contribution to the project is worth 2.4 million euros ($3.4 million) over three years, of which around 420,000 euros will flow directly to SCS over the three year period.

NEUROscreen brings together a unique partnership of leading European academic research institutes and biotechnology companies from several nations, including the UK, Germany and Italy. The program involves designing unique bioassays based on SCS' neural stem cell technology, which will then be used to discover new candidate medicines for the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, stroke and epilepsy. Neural stem cells can differentiate into neurons and glia, therefore offer potential in treating central nervous system disorders.

SCS' NS cells grow stably and uniformly, consistently producing neurons after many months in culture. The cells adhere to tissue culture vessels and can be expanded to large volumes using state-of-the-art laboratory robots, the company says.