By Choi Kyong-ae
Staff Reporter


On the first day of registration for the World Stem Cell Hub (WSCH) at the Seoul National University Hospital, 3,350 patients with a variety of incurable illnesses enrolled to offer their stem cells for research, the stem cell research center said Tuesday.

A total of 3,350 patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord damages and other incurable diseases, applied. About 500 made their registration by direct visit, while 2,500 did it online and 350 via fax.

At one point Tuesday, 20,000 visitors tried to get on WSCH Web site, shutting down the server. A spokesman at the research center advised applicants to take time, saying that registration is not made on a first-come-first-served basis.

Once the registration is completed, the hub will select patients and extract stem cells from them. Anyone who has an interest in the process can get information about it at www.worldstemcellhub@snuh.org.

The WSCH opened last month to facilitate international cooperation in stem cell research. The government provided the center with 6.5 billion won to help it cure such serious diseases as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes.

The center is run by Prof. Hwang Woo-suk, who has made great contributions to cloning research.

Among other things, the WSCH will store both embryonic and adult stem cells and supply the “versatile” cells in a search for remedies for incurable and terminal diseases.

It is forecast that the WSCH will play the role of a stem cell bank in preparation for the time when stem cells are applied to therapy in the future.

godamon@koreatimes.co.kr