UCSF awarded stem cell grantRSS Feed

The University of California, San Francisco has been given money to further human embryonic stem cell research which could be used to treat traumatic brain injury.

To encourage advancement in the area, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine awarded the UCSF two grants which totalled $6,951,825 (£4,402,351).

A sum of $1,752,058 (£1,109,502) was given to a team which will investigate using embryonic neurons to inhibit the hyperactivity which is exhibited in the nervous system in a number of neurological conditions.

In addition, $5,199,767 (£3,292,875.62) has been granted to a second team for the purpose of developing therapeutically effective liver cells from human embryonic stem cells.

Arturo Alvarez-Buylla, who is leading the first team, explained that this research could help the 20 to 30 per cent of epilepsy patients who are unresponsive to drugs.

"These cells have the unique ability to disperse through the adult brain and become functionally integrated in the neural circuitry. By bringing back a balance between excitation and inhibition in the nervous system, these cells could have important therapeutic benefits," he said.

This comes shortly after it was announced that the first spinal injury patient to receive treatment using human embryonic stem cells had begun therapy.

News brought to you by Serious Law specialists in traumatic brain injury

Posted by Timothy Walters
 

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