Exporting Science

The exportation of scientific research to other countries is a relatively new phenomenon.  Revolving mostly around the issues of stem cell research and collection, countries (particularly those in Asia) are taking advantage of restrictions placed on stem cells by the Bush Administration in 2001.  With restrictions on research and decreased funding and support in the United States, many scientists see the appeal of open scientific markets in Asia.  Many of the world’s best scientists are migrating to places like Singapore, China, India, Australia and South Korea for the chance to do research with generous funding and generous support from the government.

Embryonic stem cell research, which has been a hot topic in the United States for the last decade or so, requires stem cells to be collected from human embryos, usually those left over after In Vitro Fertilization treatments.  Wide-spread religious opposition to the use of these embryos resulted in restrictions on research and collection put in place in 2001.  Since then, countries willing to fund research with minimal oversight have been an attractive alternative.  In 2004, Singapore opened Biopolis, a two million square foot research complex and poured $600 million into start-up research, all in an attempt to capitalize on America’s lack of support for ongoing stem cell research.  The influx of some of the best minds in the world to Singapore and other countries have produced results.  China is working on a way to cure Lou Gehrig’s Disease and South Korea is making advances in spinal cord trauma therapy.  Singapore cured congenital anemia for the first time with stem cells in 2001 and is developing a way to deliver stem cells to the brain via blood rather than through risky surgery.

So what, then, are the results of this shift in research.  While these countries are attracting the top researchers in the world for now, they can not afford to keep importing scientists.  There is question as to whether they can produce their own scientists to maintain the research being done.  While Singapore continues to profit off of their new biotech industry, individual states in the United States are hoping to pass laws enabling private study of stem cells.  California was the first to pass such a law to the tune of $3 billion when Proposition 71 passed.  The pharmaceutical industry finds Singapore appealing too, with heavyweight companies such as Pfizer and Merck building factories and making $11.4 billion annually, good enough for 5% of Singapore’s economy.  The political tides in Washington are shifting as well, with the election of Barrack Obama as the president and an overwhelmingly democratic legislature, the restrictions on stem cells are bound to change in the near future-a change which is long overdue.

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~ by owen370 on February 12, 2009.