Stem Cell Press Conference Symposium: New Hope in the Medical World

On 11 Augusts 2006, Medicastore participated in Stem Cell Press Conference Symposium which was held at the Anatomy Lecture Room FKUI by Fraunhofer Institute Germany working together with the University of Indonesia Medical Faculty and sponsored by PT Kalbe Farma, Tbk.

Speakers in attendance:
1. Prof. Dr. dr. M. Farid Aziz, SpOG (K), MRU FKUI Indonesia.
2. Dr. Johannes Bolze, Director and Principal Investigator Stroke Fraunhofer Institute German.
3. dr. Boenjamin Setiawan PhD, PT Kalbe Farma Tbk.
4. dr. Bambang Budi Siswanto, FIHA,. Vice Chairman of the Stem Cell Symposium Comittee

As moderators:
1. dr. Erik Tapan, MHA, Reflection of the Medical World
2. IBK Narayana Dr, Ing, Fraunhofer Representative Office Indonesia.

Hereon the detailed information:

Stem Cell = Miracle Cell
There are several diseases that are previously incurable by conventional therapies (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) such as multiple myeloma, chronic lymphatic leukemia, thalassemia major. Fortunately, now, there is a new hope.

In the last several years, there is a development in the medical world especially in the field of hematology and stem cell transplantation. “Stem Cell is the fifth phase in the medical history after the use of herbal and screening which continues to the discovery of cure for syphilis, the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming and biotechnology,” said dr Boenyamin.

Stem Cell is a very unique cell because it has an amazing potential to develop and able to change into new cells or to become cells of other body organs. Stem cell has the assignment to repair abnormalities in the body and theoretically, stem cell may divide infinitely to fill other cells for the body as long as the person or animal still alive. When a Stem Cell divides or becomes other cell with more specific functions, such as muscle cell, red blood cell, brain cell, liver cell, kidney cell, etc.

The sources of Stem Cells are:
Stem cell from embryo (embryonal stem cells)Taken from an embryo in the blastoporic stage, the mass inside the cell grouped and contains embryonic stem cell. The cells are then isolated from the inside and cultured by in-vitro method. The stem cell will become specialized and then turn to be blood cells, muscle cells, liver cells and kidney cells.
Adult stem cells
One of them is hematopoietic stem cells. A stem cell that is able to create red blood cells, white blood cells and healthy blood platelets, usually found in bone marrows, periphery blood and umbilical cord blood.

“In America, a stem cell coming out from an embryo is banned by President Bush because it was considered as taking someone’s life. From 60 stem cells successfully created, in the US research unit, only 20 stem cell are still in function,” said dr. Boenyamin

Stem cells are found aplenty in the umbilical cords of newborn babies. That is why the blood from the umbilical cord can be stored and used when needed in the future. Even Korea, Thailand and Singapore have created facilities for umbilical cord blood storage. One of the banks for umbilical cord storage from newborn babies is Cordlife, Singapore. The storage costs S$2000 and there is an annual fee of S$200 for maintenance fee. “In Indonesia, the collecting of umbilical cords are available at RS Lippo Karawaci and RS Mitra Keluarga,” said Dr. Narayana.

Sources for stem cell transplant:
Family members or a donor with no family connection
Identical twins
Stem cell from the patient himself that has been stored beforehand

The Future in Indonesia
“In the medical world, especially medicine, Indonesia is above international standard,” said Dr. Narayana. Hence, initiated by PT. Kalbe Farma Tbk. Indonesia in collaboration with Fraunhofer Indonesia and several universities in Indonesia set up a group of stem cell research (ABG) with the support from the government through the Minister of Research and Technology.

Fraunhofer is a non-profit organization from Germany, which moves in the field of research and has 13.000 researchers made up of 500 professors and about 5.000-6.000 doctors. Fraunhofer’s main focus is to create a network between researchers and related institutes and henceforth found new businesses that supports research.“Fraunhofer has patented the stem cell culture and cell therapy, therefore it will act as a partner for the stem cell research in Indonesia,”verified Dr. Narayana.

ABG (Academicians, Business & Government) Is a stem cell research group made up of academicians, corporation and the government namely University of Indonesia, Bogor Institute of Agriculture, AtmajayaUniversity, PT Kalbe Farma Tbk. Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI) and Badan Penelitian dan Pengkajian Teknologi (BPPT). “The purpose of ABG is to create a focused coordination and collaboration in doing stem cell research in Indonesia, therefore it does not have to be done separately and the result could be use more effectively,” said dr.Boenyamin

The Universities are made up of educators and researchers with the hope that the research result may be enjoyed by the whole community. “The research costs may be supported by the Industry where the research may not only be used as a commodity but also reach the community,” explained Prof.Dr. Farid. Korea, UK, America and Germany pioneered the world’s stem cell research.

These three elements (academicians, business and government) will be thrown together to wipe out the stereotypes that have been formed in the community. The business stereotype is that they only look for profits, the academician stereotype is they only good for theory, but slow in practice and the government’s stereotype is that they complicate research with complex bureaucracy and very limited budget. In this case, the government is expected to be the catalyst of stem cell research in Indonesia and the Industry sector is hoped to be able to fund and even give incentive and therefore the whole Indonesian community may use the result. As comparison, other Asian countries have given high incentives for doctors who are doing stem cell research.

New Hope in the Medical World
In the human body, stem cell is usually concealed in the areas of bone marrow that are lack in oxygen. It is usually unveiled when the body suffers from an injury, and goes towards the injured areas. For example, it goes into the brain cell when the victim had a stroke, leukemia and so on. But stem cell can not help when stroke, leukemia or other diseases have become acute.

Stem cell is the new hope to cure diseases that are hard to treat. Stem cell therapy is also called cellular transplant. Stem cell may be specialized to become brain cells, heart cells, backbone marrow and other cells in the body. “First, the stem cell is cultured, for example, to be a heart cell and then the heart cell is harnessed and afterwards put into the heart through a catheter,” clarified dr.Bambang.

Stem cell has been proved to treat multiple myeloma chronic lymphatic leukemia, thalassemia major, heart miokard infarct, stroke, alzheimer, etc. Stem cell research team in Indonesia has targeted that Indonesia is able to create stem cell for stroke in the next 3-5 years. At the moment, the animal model has been developed.

Stem Cell Symposium

For more information regarding stem cell, and how to harness its potential in medical world, make sure to attend the stem cell symposium:

University of Indonesia Medical Faculty (Society Research and Dedication Manager) working together with PT. Kalbe Farma Tbk. and Journal Cermin Dunia Kedokteran (CDK) will organize a day symposium with the theme: Menyongsong Era Stem Cell di Indonesia (Greeting the Stem Cell Era in Indonesia) on Saturday, 2 September 2006 at the FKUI Hall

Registration at:

Redaksi majalah CDK (attn Dodi)

Gedung Enseval

Jl. Letjen Seprapto Kav.4

Telp:012-4208171, Fax: 012-42873685

Source in BAHASA http://www.medicastore.com

Now (2007), Indonesia has a Stem Cell and Cancer Institute
Address: Jl. Jend Ahmad Yani no. 2, Pulo Mas, Jakarta 13210 - Indonesia
Tel: +62 - 21 - 47860173