'India's first state-owned stem cell prevention centre started in Bengal'

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said Bengal launched India's first state-owned stem cell preservation centre at the School of Tropical Medicine here.

On the occasion of World Marrow Donor Day, Banerjee taking to her Twitter handle said: "Today is World Marrow Donor Day. Donating blood stem cells for marrow transplantation can save many lives. In 2016, our Govt in #Bangla launched #India's first state-owned stem cell preservation centre at the School of Tropical Medicine in #Kolkata," she added.

As instructed by the Chief Minister, the School of Tropical Medicine introduced cord blood bank in 2016. Prodded by her, the state Health department had taken up elaborate arrangements at the hospital for stem cell research. The umbilical cord blood of newborns — that contains stem cells — can be stored in the bank.

The preserved stem cells can be used in future for treatment of the child or when he becomes an adult in case of congenital and genetic problems and also for tackling number of complicated diseases.