
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
“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.
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.
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




