The symptoms of Parkinson’s are caused by the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells or neurons in the brain; and researchers have long proposed using cell transplantation as a treatment option for replacing these lost dopamine cells. One challenge presented to research teams however has been generating the requisite number of identical dopamine neurons to transplant.
Now, researchers in Lund (Sweden) and Cambridge (UK) will initiate the STEM-PD study that will, it is hoped, overcome this issue. Using reproducible stem cell lines, the researchers are now able to grow millions of dopamine neurons in the laboratory using stem cells – enough to implant into the trial participants to assess the safety of this treatment option over time.
Too much C/L
Recording available for NSB4PD webinar with Dr. Sackner-Bernstein on "Why I am optimistic that we might now have a Silver Bullet for PD"
