Derivation of hES cell lines in the EU and worldwide

The European Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry to date holds comprehensive information on some 650 hESC lines that have been derived in Europe and worldwide.

As of August 2009 hESCreg holds information on 252 hESC lines have been derived in Europe and a further 349 hESC lines that have been derived in non-European countries. Of all lines 49 hESC lines are approved for release from the UK Stem Cell Bank. This registry acts as a platform for coordination and cooperation between 73 hESC providers (32 EU/41 non-EU) from 23 countries worldwide (13 EU/10 non-EU).

More than one-third of all registered hESC lines, i.e. 219 lines, are available for further research. Whilst European providers make about three-quarters of their lines available, i.e. 179 lines, non-European providers grant access to about one-eighth of their stocks, i.e. 40 lines.

73 hESC lines in the registry carry a genetic modification. The vast majority of these possess inherent genetic defects that cause common diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis or Hemophilia. These cell lines would represent prime candidates for future disease-specific lines of research. Lines with induced modifications carry reporter genes such as the fluorescence marker GFP.