Stem Cells Cleared for Safety in Stroke Trials
Researchers at Glasgow's Southern Hospital are interested in finding out how effective stem cells are in treating stroke victims. The first phase of their treatment, a safety trial, has been completed and they are ready to take the next step.
The safety trial, Led by Professor Keith Muir, saw three patients at Glasgow's Southern Hospital receive stem cell injections in their brains. The result of the trial proved that such injections do not pose adverse effects for patients, allowing researchers to continue looking into the potential medical solution. From here, researchers at the hospital hope to move on to other tests that will determine how effective stem cells are when treating strokes.
Over the course of 2012, nine more patients will receive similar transplants. To continue testing the safety of the procedure, the doses will get progressively higher as times goes on.
"It's vitally important that we determine that it's safe to proceed," says Muir. "So, at the present time we have the clearance to proceed to the next higher dose of cells."
Professor Muir is happy with the results of the safety trial. He hopes that his team's research will conclude that stem cells can help repair damaged brain tissue.
Currently, over 67 000 people die from strokes in the UK and the condition is the third most common cause of death in the country. Should this research prove thatembryonic stem cells are effective in treating strokes, many lives could be saved.