
Cell therapy for brain repair focussing on Parkinson’s disease
Proof of principle for cell replacement therapy in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease was first demonstrated in the clinic using human fetal tissue in the 1980’s.
Key limitations in this technology lie in the availability of donor material, graft survival and ensuring appropriate connectivity of the transplanted cells.
Research within the group is focused on strategies to identify and select the ideal dopamine neurons, promoting cell survival upon implantation and enhancing integration of transplanted cells into the host tissue.
Efforts include the use of neurotrophins such as GDNF to promote survival and plasticity, inhibitors of scar tissue formation (including chondroitinase) and exercise-induced plasticity.
Latest Florey news for Parkinson's
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Current & emerging treatments for Parkinson’s disease: from bedside to bench
In 2014, conservative estimates indicated there were just under 70,000 people living with Parkinson’s in Australia making it the most common major movement disorder and second highest prevalence neurodegenerative condition with only dementia exceeding it.
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Parkinson’s research accelerates thanks to Argyrou family grant
Dr Dominic Hare and his world class team from the worlds of chemistry, physics, neuroscience and pathology, have won the 2018 Argyrou Family Fellowship
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