New funding for stem cell research in Bristol by the Parkinson’s Disease Society, March 2008.

 The University of Bristol has been given funding to carry out research into how to make stem cells produce dopamine and live longer after they have been transplanted into animals.

Stem cell therapy offers great hope for repairing the brain in people with Parkinson’s. It may ultimately offer a cure, allowing people to lead a life that is free from the symptoms of Parkinson’s.

Stem cells are the building blocks of the human body. They are like ‘blank’ cells. needed in every type of cell in the body including brain, blood, skin and bone. The overall aim of stem cell therapy is to replace the dead dopamine-producing nerve cells, restoring the supply of dopamine to the brain and allows it to work normally again.

Scientists have already shown that stem cells can be grown in the laboratory, one of the many challenges scientists need to overcome, is ensuring that cells produce dopamine neurons and survive after transplantation.

For more information about this research contact the Parkinson’s Disease Society, see the links page.