Stemedica claims its technology is based on more than 30 years of experience in pioneering stem cell research and treatment.

But exactly what kind of work will take place at Winterhaven remains a mystery because the firm has refused to answer questions about what it plans to do.

Its partners in Bermuda, Premier Ewart Brown and wife Wanda, have also failed to respond to requests for an interview.

At a press conference in July, plans were unveiled for one or two stem cell patients to be flown into the Island every week to undergo adult stem cell treatment.

However, the company has declined the opportunity to explain what it meant in this statement, released at that time: "Stemedica's innovative technology utilises a proprietary adult stem cell processing platform combining three decades of Russian stem cell research with Stemedica's own advanced designed and treatment methodology."

Dropping a hint about the patients who are likely to be treated, the statement made reference to stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other conditions including diabetes and spinal cord injuries.

According to International Society for Stem Cell Research president George Daley, the only widely accepted adult stem cell therapies involve blood and marrow transplantation. Anything else is experimental, says Dr. Daley.

July's statement appeared to confirm patients in Bermuda will be subjects of "case study research".

It said: "Stemedica is currently developing comprehensive working relationships with a select number of Licensed Treatment Centers around the world where pre-qualified patients will participate in the development of case study research in which Stemedica can capture highly technical medical evidence of the actual success that adult stem cells can have in treating complex medical conditions.

"With this evidence, Stemedica hopes to bring medically accepted, cost effective treatment to all of those who might benefit from the regenerative power of adult stem cells."

The clinic was initially scheduled to open in late fall this year, but Stemedica's website suggests that date has been put back to early 2008.

According to the website, Stemedica has treated more than 2,000 patients in Russia, while its partners across Europe have treated 1,800 patients.

has made numerous requests for an interview with Stemedica over the past few weeks, to find out what kind of research and treatment will take place in Bermuda, and to address issues raised by doctors for this article.

Stemedica vice president David McGuigan replied last week stating: "The record needs to be set straight and we would want to respond to 'other issues raised by doctors in the stem cell field'; however, after the libels written about Stemedica in Mid-Ocean News and , we do not trust that our comments will be used fairly in any article your organisation publishes."

This newspaper has in fact never previously published any comments questioning or attacking Stemedica or its proposals, although our sister paper The Mid-Ocean News has done so, and those articles have been covered on the royalgazette.com website.

We attempted to contact the Premier through his Government e-mail address, his Press Secretary, his private firm Bermuda HealthCare Services and Mangrove Consultants which organised the July press conference; and we sent a message to Mrs. Brown's private e-mail address. The Premier and Mrs. Brown made no response.