First batch of blastocyst for IMR

The project of establishing of first human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line in Malaysia is performed by Institute for Medical Research (IMR) and Stempeutics Research Malaysia in collaboration with Metro IVF Klang. The establishing of hESC line requires advanced technology and skillfull laboratory technicians. The whole process is done in a clean and sterile laboratory.

Establishing of hESC involves five major steps:

1. Cultivation of human embryo until blastocyst stage (5 days post fertilisation)
2. Isolation of inner cell mass (ICM) with antibody
3. Plating of isolated ICM on feeder cells
4. Second plating of ICM colonies on new feeder cells
5. Establish culture of hESC

Establishing of hESC line is a serioud, time-cosuming and refine process which ultimately will produce a successful culture rate of about 5%. This means that we will manage to establish one hESC line out of 20 embryos. This is because the ICM often stop growing and then degenerate after five days of cultivation on the feeder cells.

In order to achieve successful hESC line of Malaysia origin, a significant number of embryos are needed. We appreciate couples who have excessive embryos and do not want to freeze them for future use to consider helping this project by donating their embryos.

In order to encourage people, first batch of donated embryos were cultured to blastocyst stage at Metro IVF and transferred to IMR on 18 July 2009.