Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Leaders Join Forces to Advance Canada’s Position in the Field
Leaders from across this emerging sector have joined forces to advance the field, through the newly created Regenerative Medicine Alliance of Canada (RMAC)
March 9, 2017 (Montreal) – Stem cell science belongs to Canada and it is powering regenerative medicine. Today, leaders from across this emerging sector have joined forces to advance the field, through the newly created Regenerative Medicine Alliance of Canada (RMAC).
The global market for regenerative medicine is expected to exceed US$49 billion by 2021. Canada is well positioned to compete by moving its innovative treatments and therapies out of the lab and into the clinic. Countries around the world, including the U.S., Japan and the U.K., have already taken bold steps through investment and regulatory modernization to capture a significant piece of the market. Now is the time for Canada to act.
RMAC will serve as a mechanism to support strategic activity across the regenerative medicine sector. Members will work collaboratively to share information and identify strategies that will benefit the growth of the sector. Bolstering and aligning programs, training, policy and communication will all be central themes addressed by RMAC.
The initial concept for this alliance was conceived by members of the regenerative medicine community during a workshop on the state of regenerative medicine in Canada. The workshop was held by the Council of Canadian Academies in 2016. Their newly released report notes the importance of strategic coordination amongst the stem cell and regenerative medicine community.
“On behalf of RMAC members we welcome the Council’s report, which details Canada’s global strength in stem cell research,” said Dr. Michael Rudnicki, Interim Chair of RMAC. “It comes as no surprise that Canada continues to punch above its weight and that Canadian researchers are producing high impact work. Science is our competitive advantage.”
“Regenerative medicine and stem cell research in Canada is defined by our long history of interdisciplinary collaboration and a robust and supportive environment,” said Dr. Duncan Stewart, President and Scientific Director of the Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine, one of RMAC’s founding members. “I am pleased that this strength is central to RMAC’s goals as it will be a critical component of our ability to bring new and better treatments to patients and better economic health to our communities.”
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About the Regenerative Medicine Alliance of Canada: RMAC is a voluntary organization comprised of national, provincial and regional organizations that are committed to building a robust regenerative medicine sector in Canada. All members have mandates relevant to stem cell research and/or regenerative medicine. The founding members include: CCRM; the Centre for Drug Research and Development; CellCan; Medicine by Design; Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine; ThéCell; Canadian Stem Cell Foundation, and Stem Cell Network. Regenerative Medicine is commonly described as the process of replacing, engineering or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to establish or restore normal function.
About the Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine (OIRM): Building on more than 50 years of world-leading research in stem cells and regenerative medicine, the Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine (OIRM) was launched in 2014 with a vision to revolutionize the treatment of degenerative diseases and make Ontario a global leader in the development of stem cell-based products and therapies. More than 170 research programs at universities and institutions across the province are involved with OIRM, with additional contributions from key clinical and health charity partners and from OIRM’s commercialization partner, the Centre for the Commercialization for Regenerative Medicine (CCRM). OIRM is based in Toronto and was realized with investment from Ontario’s Ministry of Research and Innovation. www.oirm.ca.