(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-24 11:13

Tokyo -- The Japanese government will spend 7 billion yen (US$65.4 million) over the next five years to boost study on nonembryonic stem cells, following a breakthrough by local scientists earlier this week, the Daily Yomiuri said Saturday.

A group of scientists led by Kyoto University professor announced the success in producing cells resembling embryonic stem cells from ordinary skin cells on Tuesday, becoming one of the first two groups to produce induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, together with a US science team.

Japan aimed to accelerate the research progress and make a framework to put the study into practical use, focusing on mass production of human iPS cells, test on animals, such as monkey, as part of cell regeneration medical studies, as well as setting up an iPS cell bank, according to the report quoting unnamed sources.

IPS cells would involve fewer ethical questions than the use of human embryonic cells.

In fiscal 2007 (ending March 31, 2008), Japan's Education, Science and Technology Ministry will collect research applications involving studies to put the finding into practical use. Japan will also begin discussion over safety standards on iPS cells regeneration, the paper said.