£5m fund for stem cell research launched in city

A £5 million stem cell research fund has been formally launched in the Capital.

The Scottish Stem Cell Research Fund was launched last night at the Abbey House office on Edinburgh’s Princes Street.

Among those attending the official launch were UK Stem Cell Foundation chairman Sir Richard Sykes and chief executive Lil Shortland, as well as private equity specialist Jon Moulton, and TV presenter and fertility expert Lord Winston.

The fund is run by UKSCF and supported by Scottish Enterprise through £300,000 of funding. Following the event, Sir Richard said: “Scotland is home to some of world’s leading stem cell researchers and scientists.

“However, with ongoing pressure on budgets, it is becoming increasingly difficult to access funding for this exciting area of research.

“This has led the Foundation, with support from Scottish Enterprise, to set up a Stem Cell Research Fund specifically for Scotland.

“We will be focusing on raising funding for research projects from a range of sources, and would encourage everyone with an interest in this exciting area of work to get involved.”