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Panel 10 – medicine | Laboratory
in this area will require significantly more time than the translational
aspects of neurobiology as well as in the cardiovascular area. Nevertheless,
the faculty of laboratory medicine, especially in Malmö,
in endocrinology and specifically diabetes research is very strong,
and this should allow the link-up between the stem cell Center and
translational aspects of diabetes research in this area.
Despite what is discussed above, this plan will require significant adjustments
from the investigators both in the Center and the clinical faculty:
a. Unclear at the time of the review was what the strengths are of the
clinicians in the university hospital in these areas, in particular in
innovative therapies for cardiovascular disorders and in the area of
diabetes therapy.
b. What resources are available for the very significant investments that
will be needed to be competitive in all these areas.
c. As it is likely that specific faculty recruitments will be needed to fulfill
this mission, what resources and space resources are available for
recruitments.
d. Are local resources available to develop clinical trials (such as statistics
support, trial nurse support, support as it relates to regulatory issues
from the EU and EMEA).
e. Are local resources available to fund clinical trials, and / or what
additional outside funding can be obtained in these areas.
4.4 Challenges
a. One of the challenges that appear to be facing the Center became
clear via discussions with the Department heads. The Center was funded
via an independent line of funds from the Swedish government,
which ends at the end of 2008. From the description it is clear that
the Center has been financially independent, bringing in more than
sufficient funds to cover all expenses. It appears that negotiations are
ongoing to now include the Center in the Department of Laboratory
Medicine, where it would maintain its independence, but the Faculty
of Medicine would cover the administrative costs.
b. A second challenge as it relates to the development of translational
research in stem cell biology, has been elaborated upon in the previous
section.
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