Requests Flood Stem Cell Hub

(AP)  Pinning their hopes on cloning technology to overcome their hard-to-treat diseases, about 3,500 patients applied to participate in research by a global stem cell center on Tuesday, the first day it accepted applications.

The World Stem Cell Hub, led by South Korean cloning pioneer Hwang Woo-suk, aims to help those suffering from ailments such as Parkinson's disease or damaged spinal cords and who are willing to offer their skin tissue for research.

Officials have said it doesn't mean the beginning of clinical tests or treatment, yet applications still surged Tuesday, overloading the center's Web site with requests for information. The center has not set a deadline for applications or decided when trials will begin.

By the end of the day, some 3,500 applications had been received via the Internet, telephone, fax and in person, said Lim Jong-pil, an official at the research center at Seoul National University Hospital. No foreigners submitted applications, although the center is open to them, Lim said.

"I'm pinning all hopes on this," said Lee Kil-no, 52, sitting in his wheelchair at the registration center where dozens of other patients were filling out forms. Lee said he was paralyzed from the chest down after falling five stories at a construction site.

"I believe my condition will improve if I get this treatment. I wish I could walk again," he said.

One researcher said it would be a while before patients start to benefit from the new technology.

"We're now receiving applications only. This doesn't mean treatment will begin immediately," said Kang Sung-keun, a professor at Seoul National University's veterinary college.

Kang declined to predict how long it would be before the new technology becomes available for general patients. But Yim Jung-gi, vice president of the hospital, reportedly said earlier this month it would take five to 10 years.

The stem cell bank opened Oct. 19 with the aim of serving as the main center for providing scientists around the world with embryonic stem cells, seen as a potential source of replacement tissue for people with a variety of ailments.

The bank, which will have its first branches in Britain and the United States, is expected to give other scientists room to get around government restrictions on research into embryonic stem cells.

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