The British mega-brand Virgin has launched a stem-cell bank in Qatar. The country has lofty goals of becoming the world leader in stem cell technologies, and unlike in the West, Qatar does not face some of the ethical issues surrounding stem-cell research.
It was a lavish launch for the opening of Qatar’s new research center that brought out billionaire Richard Branson and Qatar’s royal family to the country’s new Science and Technology Park.
Branson came to Qatar to open the Virgin Health Bank, the first in the region that collects stem cells from the umbilical cord blood of newborns.
“Qatar is a trusting exciting country, it has leaders with great vision,” Branson said.
The sprawling new science center is part of the leaders’ ambitious plans to make this small Gulf state the center for medical research and innovation. Virgin’s plan is to store umbilical-cord stem cells after a mother has given birth.
A portion of those stem cells will be banked for that infant’s future use in the event of medical needs. The remainder will be stored at a national public center for research and use by any patient with a matching tissue type. Cord-blood stem cells are used to treat leukemia as well as other blood-related illnesses.
Maybe you can find something interesting in the following sponsored links:
