A process known as SUMOylation plays an important role in the so-called waking up of neural stem cells, a type of cell in the brain that can self-renew and mature into nerve cells, according to a new study in fruit flies by an international team of researchers led by Duke-NUS…

Electroconductive hydrogels prevented the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells (neurons) and motor function when injected into the brain, a study in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease showed. The gels were also able to promote neuronal growth and prevent inflammation in cell cultures. “Our work is the first to…

Patient enrollment and dosing is now complete for International Stem Cell Corporation’s (ISCO) Phase 1 trial testing its ISC-hpNSC neural stem cells — a cellular therapy that offers a new approach for treating Parkinson’s disease. “We are excited to announce the completion of enrollment of the world’s first approved human…

A second group of Parkinson’s patients in a Phase 1 clinical trial have received International Stem Cell Corporation’s neural stem cell therapy. The main goal of the trial (NCT02452723) at Royal Melbourne Hospital is to see whether ISCO’s stem cell transplants are safe, and patients can tolerate them. All patients…

American researchers have identified an enzyme-based mechanism that regulates neural stem cells’ ability to generate nerve cells, a finding that could lead to new therapies for Parkinson’s and other brain disorders. Scientists at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute did the work. The institute has research facilities in San Diego…

International Stem Cell’s clinical trial testing its ISC-hpNSC neural cells for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) can move forward, the company said. The announcement comes after an evaluation from experts from a Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), who looked at the safety data from the first group of patients…

International Stem Cell Corporation is now enrolling patients in a Phase 1 clinical trial of its lead product candidate, ISC-hpNSC — human parthenogenetic stem cell-derived neural stem cells — for patients with moderate to severe Parkinson’s disease. Parthenogenesis uses unfertilized eggs to create pluripotent human stem cells and hopes to significantly advance the field of…