SCMP ; January 4, 2003
Hong Kong is not renowned for its scientific excellence, yet there are doctors and scientists working here who are among the best in their fields in the world. The breakthrough in stem cell research announced last week at the University of Hong Kong was proof of that.
The scientists used stem cells extracted from the bone marrow of nine patients suffering from heart disease to stimulate blood supply. Three months after the experiments were performed, the health of seven of the patients had improved.
A similar study was carried out at the University of Rostock in Germany and similar hopeful results were recorded. The findings were published in the British medical journal the Lancet, a leading international forum for presentation of research.
Using stem cells from bone marrow is an ingenious way of sidestepping the ethical issues associated with such work.
The announcement that such cutting-edge work is being carried out by a Hong Kong team was surprising, but it should not have been. We have a solid international reputation for work in other scientific fields, such as bio-technology. Our doctors working in specialised areas such as organ disease and eye disorders are among the best in the world.