NAIROBI, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's premier research center on Thursday commissioned the first stem cell research laboratory to help promote the treatment and prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
Elijah Songok, acting director general of Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), said the first-ever Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine laboratory in the Sub-Saharan African Region will support the development of new technologies for the treatment and prevention of NCDs.
"Stem cell research shall enable us to develop new therapies to regenerate and repair tissues that have been damaged or affected by diseases or accidents such as cancer, spinal cord injuries, burns, and diabetes," Songok told journalists during the launch in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
He noted that the 77.2-million shillings (542,600 U.S. dollars) facility will be a game changer in health research as it will save Kenyan patients from spending much money in traveling abroad for treatment of NCDs.
Songok said due to a lack of specialized infrastructure and personnel in Kenya, most patients with NCDs seek treatment in other countries including India, the United States, South Africa and Germany, among others.
The emerging knowledge in stem cell science and regenerative medicine will now be explored to help address the NCDs among other challenges, he added.
According to the official, KEMRI has successfully developed diagnostic kits on malaria, HIV Aids, hepatitis and COVID-19 that are awaiting a rollout with partners in the health sector.
Dickson Andala, chief executive officer of the National Research Fund (NRF), said that NCDs have proven a big problem for developing and middle-income countries since it threatens their achievement of sustainable development goals.
Andala added that more than 50 percent of inpatients in health facilities and 27 percent of deaths annually are attributed to NCDs, a trend that is worrying and deserves scientists' effort.
Ratemo Michieka, chairman of NRF, said that the emerging knowledge in stem cell science and regenerative medicine will now be explored to help address the NCDs in the region.
The new facility is being housed at the newly established Center of Excellence in Stem Cell Research at KEMRI's Center for Biotechnology Research and Development (CBRD).
Stem cells have the potential for regeneration, treatment and cell-based therapy, drug discovery and testing, disease modeling, transplantation of internal organs such as the liver, cancer treatment and anti-aging.
