Skin cells 'transformed into functional brain cells'RSS Feed

A scientist has successfully transformed human skin cells into functional brain cells, potentially helping those with neurodegenerative brain injury such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease.

Dr Sheng Ding, of the Gladstone Institutes, discovered efficient and robust methods to transform adult skin cells into neurons capable of transmitting brain signals.

Lennart Mucke, of Gladstone, commented that this research could have significant implications for patients and the families of those with such neurodegenerative conditions.

"Dr. Ding's latest research offers new hope for the process of developing medications for these diseases, as well as for the possibility of cell-replacement therapy to reduce the trauma of millions of people affected by these devastating and irreversible conditions," he expanded.

This follows research from the Salk Institute in California which revealed that scientists believe they have discovered a new means of monitoring stem cell development in the body.

According to the authors, this could offer a new technique for tracking the renewals process undertaken by cells and how they produce other cells in the body.

News brought to you by Serious Law specialists in brain injury

Posted by Timothy Walters
 

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