ADULT STEM CELLS

August 2004
		Adult stem cells, which come from bone marrow, skin, brain, blood and muscle, appear to have enormous potential to help repair the body. But individual studies on stem cell therapy are showing mixed results. Helen Blau, Ph.D., of the Stanford University School of Medicine and Charles Murry, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Washington's Department of Pathology answer your questions.

Online NewsHour Special Report: Adult Stem Cells Forum Introduction If the current restrictions posed on stem cell research were eliminated, how long would it be before initial procedures for spinal cord injuries would begin to appear? I have Parkinson's and I'm 51 years old. What's a possible timetable for the application of stem cell therapy to help me and others in my age range? Why can't stem cells derived from bone marrow be cultured and the injected locally into regions of the brain that has been damaged as a consequence of a stroke? What are your feelings on the potential of umbilical cord blood as a source of stem cell transplantation? Is it true that the research to date is not applicable to all ethnic groups, particularly, persons of African decent? Can stem cells injected into the body cause cancers? What kind of research is happening in this country, and when can I see human research here?	Dave Bachman from Petaluma, Calif., asks: I have Parkinson's and I'm 51 years old. (I was initially diagnosed in 2000.) What's a possible timetable for the application of stem cell therapy to help me and others in my age range? Dr. Charles Murry responds: Many investigators, myself included, see Parkinson's disease as one of the earliest targets for stem cell-based therapy. The deficient cell type (a dopamine-producing neuron) can be produced from stem cells and the affected region of the brain (the substantia nigra) can be targeted with existing delivery systems. Preliminary work using fetal tissue implants has shown tantalizing results, but not all patients show improvement. Stem cells may give a more consistent cell population to implant and help improve response rates. My own center is hoping to be doing clinical trials with stem cells for Parkinson's disease within five years. Other centers have an even faster timeline. Dr. Helen Blau responds: Parkinson's has not yet been treated with stem cells. Many efforts using embryonic and adult stem cells are under study. It is hard to give you a timeline, but research is intensely focused on this important area.

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