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| Parkinson's patient Ed Fitzpatrick speaks about stem cell research for his disease. Fitzpatrick talked on a Dec. 7 panel at the World Stem Cell Summit in San Diego. |
2:01 P.M.DEC. 8, 2013
For eight local Parkinson's patients seeking treatment with stem cell technology, 2014 could bring the milestone they've been anticipating.
If all goes well, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will approve an attempt to replace the brain cells destroyed in Parkinson's. The new cells, grown from each patient's own skin cells, are expected to restore normal movement in the patients.
Because the new brain cells are made from the patients' own cells, immunosuppressive drugs shouldn't be needed. Ideally, patients could stop taking their medications and resume normal activities for many years, or even the rest of their lives.
The project, Summit4StemCell.org, is a collaboration between three nonprofits. The Scripps Research Institute handles the science; Scripps Clinic takes care of the medical side; and the Parkinson's Association of San Diego helps to raise money for the self-funded project.
The rest of the story...with lots of videos of the researchers explaining the process and progress.
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