New Delhi: India and Britain are likely to collaborate soon on stem cell research and clinical trials for finding cures to various illnesses, British Science and Technology Minister Lord David Sainsbury said.

During a workshop held in India last year, scientists of both countries had expressed their desire to collaborate in stem cell research.

Britatn also desire that both countries should link up in research and development and set up stem cell banks and collaborate for access to cell lines in the bank. This needs (the sorting out of) regulation issues.

Britain, under its new stem cell research policy, has evolved a detailed plan for carrying out clinical trials through its National Health Service, while India still needs to finalise its guidelines, Sainsbury said.

Officials said there was growing interest in Britain about research being conducted at Indian institutions as well as collaborating on commercialisation of innovations and new technologies.

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