Reprogrammed cells relieve Parkinson’s symptoms in trials

Japanese researchers report promising results from an experimental therapy for Parkinson’s disease that involves implanting neurons made from ‘reprogrammed’ stem cells into the brain. A trial conducted in monkeys with a version of the disease showed that the treatment improved their symptoms and seemed to be safe, according to a report published on 30 August in Nature.

Lorenz Studer Awarded the 2017 Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize

Lorenz P. Studer, MD, was announced today as the winner of the 2017 Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize by the Gladstone Institutes. Studer is the director of the Center for Stem Cell Biology and a member of the Developmental Biology Program at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Trials of embryonic stem cells to launch in China

Jason Lee/Reuters In the next few months, surgeons in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou will carefully drill through the skulls of people with Parkinson’s disease and inject 4 million immature neurons derived from human embryonic stem cells into their brains. Then they will patch the patients up, send them home and wait.

Congratulations to GForce-PD member Malin Parmar on being a elected into the 2016 class of NYSCF Robertson Investigators

NYSCF Announces the Six Members of the 2016 Class of NYSCF – Robertson Investigators

NYSCF announced the 2016 class of NYSCF – Robertson Investigators, welcoming six of the most talented stem cell researchers and neuroscientists…

Stem cell researcher from Lund University receives the Fernström Prize

Is it possible to convert a patient’s own skin cells into functioning nerve cells? Or insert

Boom in unproven cell therapies intensifies regulatory debate

Steve Gschmeissner/SPL Thomas Albini met his first patient blinded by a stem-cell ‘treatment’ last year. The elderly woman, who had macular degeneration, thought she was paying to participate in a clinical trial that would save her sight by injecting stem cells into both eyes. Instead, it left her legally blind.

Another way to dial back stem cell hype (but not hope): Put a dollar figure on it

In an effort to reign in the hype surrounding stem cell research that has led to a proliferation of unapproved and potentially dangerous stem cell therapies, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) recently released updated guidelines outlining conduct for stem cell researchers that, for the first time, included communications activities.

StemCells, Inc. Announces Termination of Phase II Pathway Study Following Review of Data

NEWARK, Calif., May 31, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — StemCells, Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) (the “Company”) today announced its decision to terminate the Company’s Phase II Pathway Study in spinal cord injury following an in-depth review of data from the study and after obtaining the concurrence of the study’s Interim Analysis Data Monitoring Committee (the “IA-DMC”).

National Stem Cell Foundation and Michael J. Fox Foundation Partner to Support Parkinson’s Cell Replacement Therapy

LOUISVILLE and NEW YORK, May 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The National Stem Cell Foundation (NSCF) and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) have announced a partnership to fund development of a cutting-edge therapy to replace the dopamine neurons that degenerate in Parkinson’s disease, the second most common brain disease after Alzheimer’s.