Pre-Clinical Studies Towards Cell-Based Approaches For Cortical Repair.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$739,901.00
Summary
This project seeks to determine whether brain cells that die after stroke can be functionally replaced using cells grown in the laboratory from human stem cells. Current therapies for stroke aim to limit the damage but do not allow for actual recovery of brain function. By growing turning stem cells into specialised cells that match the ones lost after stroke, this project aims to restore motor function by transplanting these cells into the injured brain.
This proposal seeks to determine the therapeutic potential of stem cells for the treatment of brain injury early in life, for example as occurs in cerebral palsy. The project will test the capacity of implanted stem cells to both protect the brain and also to functionally replace cells lost to the injury in order to improve motor and cognitive function.
Pre-clinical Steps Towards A Stem Cell Therapy For Parkinson's Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,179,594.00
Summary
A promising experimental therapy for Parkinson's disease is the use of stem cells that in order to replace the cells lost during the disease process. A challenge for this approach is that upon transplantation into the brain, in addition to the therapeutic cell types, there will also be unwanted cell types such as those that can form tumours. This proposal seeks to establish a novel strategy for removing those cells prior to transplantation.