In the United States, the Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) is currently conducting a clinical trial to test the “safety and effectiveness” of implanting reprogrammed stem cells into the brain. This treatment aims to replace brain cells damaged by Parkinson’s disease and help produce dopamine, which is a crucial chemical for movement and other brain functions.
Dr. Brian Lee, a neurosurgeon at Keck Medicine and the lead researcher of the study, explains that if the brain can start producing normal levels of dopamine again, it could slow down Parkinson’s disease and restore motor functions. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that occurs when there is a decrease in dopamine release in the brain.
The therapy uses induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), which are special cells that can turn into various types of cells in the body. Dr. Xenos Mason, a neurologist at Keck Medicine involved in the research, believes that these iPS cells can reliably develop into dopamine-producing brain cells, giving the best chance to restart dopamine production in the brain.
The cells are implanted “precisely” into a part of the brain called the basal ganglia, which controls movement, using MRI guidance. The study will include a total of 12 patients who have moderate to moderately severe Parkinson’s disease. These patients will be monitored for 12 to 15 months to see if there are any changes in their Parkinson’s symptoms or any side effects. After that, they will continue to be monitored for five years.
The American Food and Drug Administration has granted the clinical trial, called REPLACE™, “fast track” status, meaning it is being prioritized for quicker review and progress.
This article has been translated and simplified by artificial intelligence from a French article “Maladie de Parkinson : un essai clinique pour évaluer l’efficacité d’une thérapie à base d’iPS”
It may therefore contain errors. The French version is the reference version..