Kyoto Univ. Teams Up with U.S. Firm in iPS Cell Research

Kyoto, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)--Kyoto University has agreed to team up
with U.S. biotechnology company Novocell Inc. in exploring the creation of
human pancreatic islet cells from induced pluripotent stem, or iPS, cells.
The Center for iPS Research and Application at the Japanese
university and Novocell hope their collaboration, to be carried out in basic
research, will help develop regenerative therapies for diabetes, the center
said Tuesday.
It is the first time for the center, headed by Prof. Shinya
Yamanaka who pioneered technology to create iPS cells, to cooperate with an
overseas company. The cells, which resemble embryonic stem cells, have the
potential for developing into any kind of tissue.
Novocell, for its part, has pioneered technologies for developing
functioning pancreatic islet cells from human ES cells in vivo.
Yamanaka expressed his willingness to push for global tie-ups when
he held a press conference on Dec. 1.