Vic stem cell bid to beat blindness

Scientists are turning human skin cells into eye cells by using stem cell research, with their sights set on unravelling a common but incurable form of blindness.

Age-related macular degeneration, which results from dying retinal cells, affects one in seven older Australians and costs the country's economy $5.15 billion a year, figures show.

But little is understood about how or why it occurs.

Enter a team at Melbourne's Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), which is taking skin cells from affected patients, turning them into stem cells and then into new retinal cells.

These are then compared with the patient's damaged cells, allowing the researchers to see in detail what's gone wrong.

A new charity, the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia, has devoted its first investment to the project, bringing Kathryn Davidson, a US stem cell expert, to the centre from Seattle.

'We know (with macular degeneration) that certain cells in the retina die, and so do the other cells that depend on them, but we need to know how and why,' Dr Davidson told those gathered at the charity's launch in Melbourne on Monday.

Dr Davidson said stem cell research lets her team 'mimic the disease in a dish', with a view to finding means for better diagnosis and treatment.

Melbourne therapist and mum Michelle Kornberg, who was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration aged 30, knows the fear and frustration at the lack of available relief.

Doorways and blinds appear as uneven waves, and written words would intermittently vanish from sight, she said.

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Vic stem cell bid to beat blindness

Stem cell-based bioartificial tissues and organs

Feb. 18, 2013 Surgeon Paolo Macchiarini has made his name by successfully transplanting bioengineered stem cell-based trachea, composed of both artificial and biological material. He now plans to use the technique to recreate more complex tissues, such as the esophagus and diaphragm or organs such as the heart and lungs. He has also made an experimental attempt to regenerate brain in mice and rats.

This is part of the news he will be presenting during his seminar at the scientific AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston.

In June 2011, media all over the world reported about a ground breaking transplant, where a patient received an artificial trachea covered in his own stem cells. The result was an artificial windpipe with biological functions. To date, five operations have been carried out using this technique.

"We learn something from each operation. This means we can develop and refine the technique. We are also evaluating how we can transfer our experiences to other fields, such as neurology. The aim is to make as much use of the body's own healing potential as we can," says Paolo Macchiarini, Professor of Regenerative Surgery at Karolinska Institutet, and responsible for the surgery.

At the AAAS Annual Meeting, he will talk about how he believes the technology can be used in the future. This will include:

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Karolinska Institutet.

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Stem cell-based bioartificial tissues and organs

Osiris Therapeutics Successfully Defends Key Stem Cell Patent Challenge

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. (OSIR), the leading company focused on developing and marketing stem cell products to treat serious medical conditions, announced today the successful conclusion of a patent challenge in Australia by an opponent whose identity under Australian law was not disclosed. The patent at issue covers the administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), including Prochymal (remestemcel-L), for the treatment of inflammatory conditions involving the gastrointestinal tract, including Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis.

As acknowledged in the Australian Official Journal of Patents Supplement, all claims to the patent will be maintained in full. The claims specifically include the use of allogeneic MSCs, an attribute central to making an off-the-shelf MSC product possible.

In 2012, Prochymal, an intravenous formulation of MSCs, became the world's first stem cell drug to gain approval by an internationally recognized regulatory authority. Prochymal is also the first drug approved for acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) - a devastating complication of bone marrow transplantation that kills up to 80 percent of children affected, many within just weeks of diagnosis. Prochymal is now approved in Canada and New Zealand, and is currently available in seven other countries including the United States under an Expanded Access Program.

About Prochymal (remestemcel-L)

Prochymal is the worlds first approved drug with a stem cell as its active ingredient. Developed by Osiris Therapeutics, Prochymal is an intravenous formulation of MSCs, which are derived from the bone marrow of healthy adult donors between the ages of 18 and 30 years. The MSCs are selected from the bone marrow and grown in culture so that up to 10,000 doses of Prochymal can be produced from a single donor. Prochymal is truly an off-the-shelf stem cell product that is stored frozen at the point-of-care and infused through a simple intravenous line without the need to type or immunosuppress the recipient. Prochymal is approved in Canada and New Zealand for the management of acute GvHD in children and is available for adults and children in eight countries including the United States, under an Expanded Access Program. Prochymal is currently in a Phase 3 trial for refractory Crohns disease and in a Phase 2 trial for acute myocardial infarction.

About Osiris Therapeutics

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., having developed the worlds first approved stem cell drug, Prochymal, is the leading stem cell company. The company is focused on developing and marketing products to treat medical conditions in inflammatory, cardiovascular, orthopedic and wound healing markets. In Biosurgery, Osiris currently markets Grafix for burns and chronic wounds, and Ovation for orthopedic applications. Osiris is a fully integrated company with capabilities in research, development, manufacturing and distribution of stem cell products. Osiris has developed an extensive intellectual property portfolio to protect the company's technology, including 50 U.S. and 156 foreign patents.

Osiris, Prochymal, Chondrogen, Grafix and Ovation are registered trademarks of Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. More information can be found on the company's website, http://www.Osiris.com. (OSIR-G)

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Osiris Therapeutics Successfully Defends Key Stem Cell Patent Challenge

Your guide to stem-cell treatments

FIRST OF TWO PARTS From lamb embryo to fat cells By Alex Y. Vergara, Raoul J. Chee Kee Philippine Daily Inquirer

DR. AIVEE Aguilar-Teo of The Skin Laser and Aesthetic Center

Fresh-cell therapy

Based in Edenkoben, Germany, this clinic for holistic medicine offers patients fresh-cell therapy that supposedly aids in the bodys regeneration. The clinic has been in business since 1961, and its founder, Dr. A. Gali, was a distinguished student of Dr. Paul Niehans, the acknowledged father of fresh-cell therapy.

Months after the treatment, not a few patients swear to the therapys youth-inducing effects such as glowing skin, increased energy and even longevity.

In lieu of a one-size-fits-all approach, fresh-cell therapy is said to be a tailor-made and organ-specific treatment. Stem cells are derived from the organs of an unborn lamb, and are injected intramuscularly into the patients buttocks.

Depending on the patients needs, these tailor-made stem cells are designed to home in on particular organs targeted for rejuvenation. For skin and joint rejuvenation, however, stem cells are injected directly on targeted areas.

Villa Medica also does fresh-cell therapy on children afflicted with autism and Downs syndrome. Stem cells supposedly enhance the brains metabolism, which, in turn, leads to better cognitive functions.

Autistics can benefit from it, as fresh-cell therapy also supposedly boosts brain development and the bodys immune system, helping them manage all sorts of allergies and problems related to digestion.

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Your guide to stem-cell treatments

Stem cell therapy can kill – health expert

Published on 10 January 2013 Hits: 988 Written by Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

A HEALTH expert on Wednesday warned that stem cell therapy can also kill.

Dr. Leo Olarte, spokesman of the Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine, said that if the stem cell that a patient received is from a donor, it could lead to fatal complications.

He said that a stem cell transplant can pose risks of complications, some potentially fatal, depending on many factors including the type of blood disorder, the type of transplant and the age and health of the person.

Although some people experience few problems with a transplant, others may develop complications that may require treatment or hospitalization. Some complications could even be life-threatening, warned Olarte, also the vice chairman of the Philippine Medical Association.

He said that such complications could be in the form of graft-versus-host disease (allogeneic transplant only), stem cell (graft) failure, organ injury, infections, cataracts, infertility, new cancers and even death.

Olarte said that anyone undergoing a transplant using stem cells from a donor (allogeneic stem cell transplant) may be at risk of graft-versus-host disease.

This condition occurs when a donors transplanted stem cells attack your body. Graft-versus-host disease can be mild or severe. It can occur soon after your transplant or months to years later, he added.

The doctor said that incompatibility can also lead to diseases of the skin (rash, often like sunburn), gut (mouth sores, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting), liver (jaundice or yellowing of the skin), lungs (blocked airways) or eyes (irritation and light sensitivity).

It can lead to chronic disability due to organ injury or infections and can be life-threatening. Your doctor must monitor closely for signs and symptoms of graft-versus-host disease, Olarte said.

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Stem cell therapy can kill – health expert

YaFarm Technologies Announces ISCI IRB Submission

PITTSTON, ME--(Marketwire - Feb 15, 2013) - YaFarm Technologies, Inc. ( PINKSHEETS : YFRM ) (YaFarm, or the Company) is pleased to announce that The Integrative Stem Cell Institute (ISCI), a premier provider of point-of-care, stem cell-based therapies, has submitted its complete protocols for the treatment of chronic and degenerative diseases to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the International Cell Surgical Society (ICSS).

ISCI submitted the protocols for independent evaluation and review of its safety study in the use of adipose derived progenitor (stem) cells in the treatment of chronic and degenerative diseases. The IRB will study ISCI's procedures for harvesting, processing, and re-implanting the patient's own stem cells to confirm patients are not put at risk. The IRB will also review the scientific and medical qualifications of the investigators, the informed consent and patient candidacy forms, and the rationale for the study.

The ICSS IRB is registered with the Office for Human Research Protections, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The IRB is comprised of both medical and scientific experts, as well as informed community members, and is managed by the International Cell Surgical Society, a California based physician organization dedicated to education, advancing research, and advocating for cell-based regenerative medicine.

The studies ISCI submitted for approval will be conducted within its state-of-the art laboratory and the fully integrative medical facility of the ISCI, housed in the Hospital Galenia in Cancun, Mexico. As part of the submission, the ISCI will also provide the IRB with the methodology for providing long-term follow up and the conditions specific metrics and safety data that will be collected for review. This model includes the use of the international physician network, the ISCP, to provide independent collection of patient outcomes.

"IRB submission and review is a critical element of our clinical studies programs," says David Audley, CEO of the ISCI. "Many clinics do not take this extra step, but we genuinely believe that patient safety only comes through transparency and oversight. The most effective way we will be able to advance this field, and to deliver on the promise of regenerative medicine, is collect patient data, report it, and publish it," Mr. Audley continued, "We are excited about this important step and look forward to working with the IRB."

About The Integrative Stem Cell Institute (ISCI)The Integrative Stem Cell Institute (ISCI) is a premier provider of point-of-care, stem cell-based therapies for patients from around the world. With a state of the art laboratory housed within the Hospital Galenia in Cancun, Mexico, the ISCI combines the most advanced scientific application of stem cells with second to none medical care within the structure of adaptive clinical trials to effectively track long term outcomes and assure patient safety. More information on the Integrative Stem Cell Institute is available at http://www.iscelli.com

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties to which forward-looking statements are subject include, but are not limited to, the effect of government regulation, competition, adequate financing, and other material risks. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the statements made herein.

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YaFarm Technologies Announces ISCI IRB Submission

Stem Cell Research Focusing on Autism's Genetic Mysteries Earns $2.125 Million Grant at Robert Wood Johnson Medical …

Newswise PISCATAWAY, NJ -- The social symbol for autism awareness, a ribbon of brightly-colored puzzle pieces, reflects the complexity of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A new five-year $2.125 million grant from the New Jersey Governors Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism will fund research of induced pluripotent stem cells that may be used to piece together the genetic pathways of autism and lead to new treatments for individuals affected by ASD. The research, led by James H. Millonig, PhD, associate professor of neuroscience and cell biology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is being conducted as part of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence (NJ ACE).

Autism is defined by a spectrum of behavioral and neurological abnormalities, with distinct characteristics for each individual denoting that there are multiple underlying genetic causes, said Dr. Millonig, who also is assistant dean of medical science training at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a member of the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, a joint institute of the medical school and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Working with my colleagues in neuroscience and at the Child Health Institute of New Jersey and Rutgers, we hope to identify the neurobiological, molecular and genetic basis the biological signature of autism.

Autism is a disorder of the brain, which is mostly comprised of neurons. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are scientifically-derived stem cells from individuals that mimic the traits of embryonic stem cells and can be used to create other cell types. Therefore, the research team will use iPSCs to create human neurons in order to understand how they develop abnormally in individuals with autism. The scientists will then test FDA-approved drugs on the neurons to identify therapeutic treatments that may improve or reverse the disorder.

We know of a lot of genes associated with autism, but dont know when, where and how they act in development, explains Dr. Millonig. We need to look at neurons and determine how they mature differently in order to develop better drug therapies that are tailored to the needs of individuals with autism.

The multi-institutional NJ ACE team includes Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom, MD, professor of neuroscience and cell biology and pediatrics at the medical school; Linda M. Brzustowicz, MD, professor of genetics, Rutgers University; Chi-wei Lu, PhD, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences and Zhiping Pang, PhD, assistant professor of neuroscience and cell biology both at the Child Health Institute of New Jersey; and Yong Lin, PhD, at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey. The Child Health Institute of New Jersey and The Cancer Institute of New Jersey are Centers of Excellence at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Consultants on the grant include the Rutgers University Cell and DNA Repository; Ronald Hart, PhD, professor of cell biology and neuroscience, Rutgers University; Bonnie Firestein, PhD, professor of cell biology and neuroscience, Rutgers University; Jennifer Moore, PhD, associate director, National Institute of Mental Health Stem Cell Center, and research assistant director, Stem Cell Research Center, Rutgers University.

About UMDNJ-ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON MEDICAL SCHOOL As one of the nations leading comprehensive medical schools, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in education, research, health care delivery, and the promotion of community health. In cooperation with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the medical schools principal affiliate, they comprise one of the nation's premier academic medical centers. In addition, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School has 34 other hospital affiliates and ambulatory care sites throughout the region.

As one of the eight schools of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, with 2,800 full-time and volunteer faculty, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School encompasses 22 basic science and clinical departments, and hosts centers and institutes including The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the Child Health Institute of New Jersey, the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, and the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey. The medical school maintains educational programs at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels for more than 1,500 students on its campuses in New Brunswick, Piscataway, and Camden, and provides continuing education courses for health care professionals and community education programs. To learn more about UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, log on to rwjms.umdnj.edu. Find us online at http://www.Facebook.com/RWJMS and http://www.twitter.com/UMDNJ_RWJMS. ###

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Stem Cell Research Focusing on Autism's Genetic Mysteries Earns $2.125 Million Grant at Robert Wood Johnson Medical ...

StemCells rises on spinal cord therapy data

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of StemCells Inc. jumped Tuesday after the company said it finished treating the first group of patients in a clinical trial of its stem cell therapy.

THE SPARK: StemCells said it has completed treatment for three patients and is now observing their long-term health. All three had suffered a "complete" spinal cord injury at chest level, which means they had no nerve function or feeling below the area that was injured. The company said two of the patients had greater sensory function a year after treatment, and one had recovered to the point that the injury is now considered "incomplete."

StemCells said that as far as it knows, this is the first time a patient has experienced that kind of improvement after treatment with neural stem cells.

The study measured changes in the patients' sensitivity to touch, heat and electrical stimuli. StemCells said one of the patients didn't experience any improvement.

THE BIG PICTURE: The Newark, Calif., company is studying therapies based on purified adult neural stem cells. It had previously reported that two of the three patients had improved six months after they were treated. StemCells is also testing its treatment on patients with complete injuries, and said it hopes those patients will have similar or larger improvements because they still have some nerve function.

Stem cell therapies are still an experimental field, and StemCells is a small company without any approved products.

SHARE ACTION: StemCells shares climbed 38 cents, or 22.8 percent, to $2.02 in afternoon trading. The stock has doubled in value since-mid July, when the company reported positive preclinical data for an experimental Alzheimer's disease therapy.

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StemCells rises on spinal cord therapy data

International Stem Cell Corporation Demonstrates Positive Animal Efficacy Results in Metabolic Liver Disease Program

CARLSBAD, CA--(Marketwire - Feb 12, 2013) - International Stem Cell Corporation ( OTCQB : ISCO ) (www.internationalstemcell.com) ("ISCO" or "the Company") a California-based biotechnology company, today announced the conclusions from its study demonstrating the efficacy and safety of the hepatocyte-like cells (HLC) derived from human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSC) in a well-established animal model of a congenital liver disorder associated with bilirubin metabolism. The data from this pre-clinical study indicates that implanting HLC in rodents produced both a significant initial decrease and the long-term stabilization of bilirubin levels in blood serum.

Criggler-Najjar syndrome type 1 (CN1) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder in which the sufferer's liver lacks a specific enzyme -- UGT1A1, which is essential for the clearance of the toxin bilirubin. The syndrome results in unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, a disorder characterized by severe neurological complications which, if left untreated, can lead to irreversible acute encephalopathy. Allogenic hepatocyte transplantation (HT) has been used as an alternative therapeutic option for patients with liver-based metabolic diseases including CN1. However, one of the major factors limiting the clinical advancement of human HT is a shortage of mature, functioning human hepatocytes as well as the limited repopulation capacity of grafted adult cells.

The use of HLCs to treat CN1 has several potential advantages over transplantation of primary hepatocytes. Firstly, HLC would circumvent the shortage of primary cells, as they can be produced and expanded in vitro. Secondly, there is evidence to suggest that grafting HLC may yield better long-term repopulation and persistent metabolic activity than using immature fetal hepatocytes. HLCs can also be given before the onset of bilirubin encephalopathy occurs, and can thus provide sufficient amounts of UGT1A1 to allow the liver to metabolize this toxin.

ISCO has previously reported how these HLC engraft in the liver of Gunn rats, a well-validated model of CN1 where the animals lack UGT1A1 and therefore accumulate toxic levels of unconjugated bilirubin. In addition to this result, no adverse safety signals were detected 16 weeks after the implantation of a therapeutic dose of HLC, and serum levels of bilirubin continued to decline, compared with the control group, up to the conclusion of the observation period at week 19. Moreover, the overall structure and morphology of the liver in all rodents in the treatment group appeared to be undamaged, with no apparent inflammation, tumorigenicity or cell rejection observed.

Dr. Ruslan Semechkin, Vice President - head of R&D for ISCO comments: "This study provides important evidence for the use of our HLC product as a viable source of transplantable cells for the treatment of CN1. Having completed this study, we can now discuss with the FDA the requirements for our Investigational New Drug (IND) application and phase 1 clinical trial."

About International Stem Cell Corporation

International Stem Cell Corporation is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) and the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs) hence avoiding ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenetic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells for hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and racial background with minimal immune rejection after transplantation. hpSCs offer the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (www.lifelinecelltech.com), and stem cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (www.lifelineskincare.com). More information is available at http://www.internationalstemcell.com.

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International Stem Cell Corporation Demonstrates Positive Animal Efficacy Results in Metabolic Liver Disease Program

Northwestern Medicine researchers investigate stem cell therapy for stroke

Public release date: 11-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Megan McCann memccann@nmh.org 312-926-5900 Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Each year, nearly 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke which can result in permanent brain damage, long term disability or death. As a leading cause of adult disability, stroke has an annual burden of more than $62 billion on the United States economy. With the exception of rehabilitation therapy, very few treatments are available to improve the chronic neurologic deficits caused by a stroke. In hopes of expanding therapeutic options, Northwestern Medicine researchers are investigating a novel stem cell therapy, known as SB623, that may hold the key to improving motor function following a disabling stroke.

Northwestern is currently one of only three sites in the nation enrolling participants in a landmark study to test the safety and efficacy of adult stem cell therapy for patients with stable ischemic stroke. Accounting for 87 percent of strokes, ischemic stroke occurs when a blocked artery interrupts the flow of oxygen and blood to the brain. This causes cell death and brain damage which can leave a person with impaired body functions, including paralysis, weakness on one side, difficulty with speech and language, vision issues, and cognitive challenges.

"Two million brain cells die each minute during a stroke making it critical to get treatment fast at the earliest sign of symptoms; once brain damage occurs, there's very little that can be done medically to reverse it," said principal investigator Joshua Rosenow, MD, director of Functional Neurosurgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and associate professor of neurosurgery, neurology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "While this study is only a preliminary step towards understanding the healing potential of these cells, we are excited about what a successful trial could do for a patient population that currently has very limited therapeutic options."

While the study's primary purpose is to examine the safety of SB623 stem cells, researchers will also seek to determine if the cells are effective in improving stroke symptoms. SB623 is derived from genetically engineered adult bone marrow cells from a healthy adult donor.

"Although not proven in humans, these stem cells have been shown to promote healing and improve function when administered in animal models of stable stroke," said co-investigator Richard Bernstein, MD, director of Northwestern Memorial's Stroke Center and associate professor of neurology at the Feinberg School. "The cells did not replace the neurons destroyed by stroke, but instead they appeared to encourage the brain to heal itself and promote the body's natural regenerative process. Eventually, the implanted stem cells disappeared."

"In this study, the cells are transplanted into the brain using brain mapping technology and scans, allowing us to precisely deposit the cells in the brain adjacent to the area damaged by stroke," explained Rosenow.

Early participants have received 2.5 million cells, but as the study progresses the dose will escalate to 5 million and eventually 10 million cells. Since SB623 cells are allogeneic, a single donor's cells can be used to treat many other individuals. Participants in the study will be followed for up to two years with periodic evaluations for safety and effectiveness in the improvement in motor function.

"Stroke can be a very disabling and life changing event," said Bernstein. "Even just a slight improvement in function could make a huge difference for a person impacted by stroke. To potentially give our patients the opportunity to permanently regain movement or speech is a very exciting prospect. In the animal models, the improvements appeared to remain even after the implanted stem cells disappeared."

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Northwestern Medicine researchers investigate stem cell therapy for stroke