Mumbai: The department of biotechnology (DBT) plans to set up an institute for stem cell research and regenerative medicine at Bangalore.

The department is actively pursuing the proposal while necessary approvals are being obtained, its joint director Alka Sharma said at the valedictory function of the workshop on stem cell research at the National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health in Bangalore.

She said the newly circulated final draft guidelines for stem cell research, prepared jointly by department of biotechnology and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has been placed for public comments.

The draft guidelines clearly define research under permissible, restricted and prohibited categories.

For instance, research pertaining to adult stem cell and cord blood stem cells comes under permissible category.

On the other hand, embryonic stem cells and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) of oocytes (eggs) come under restricted category, while human germ line genetic engineering or reproductive cloning and breeding of experimental animals are all prohibited, she said

Meanwhile, she said the Rs18-crore stem cell research centre at Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore supported by the department is expected to become functional soon.

The CMC-DBT project will have facilities for good manufacturing practices (GMP) and is almost complete, she added.

Cell therapy is expected to find ground in three years provided scientists conduct proper pre-clinical tests on primates before its benefits could be lend to humans, stem cell biologists said.