Current stem cell research

So far we have invested more than £2million into cutting edge stem cell research.

We are the largest charity funder of Parkinson's research in the UK.

• Why do stem cells hold such potential for Parkinson's?
• Challenges for stem cell research
• Our current stem cell research projects
• How you can help 

Why do stem cells hold such potential for Parkinson's?

Stem cells offer tremendous potential because they are capable of becoming any of the 200 different types of cells that make up the human body.

This makes stem cells exciting prospects for:

• Research
  To understand more about how cells work and how diseases develop
• Drug discovery
  To find and test new drugs to check they are safe and effective
• Cell-based therapies
  To replace or repair damaged tissues and organs

"For people with Parkinson's, the hope is that we will be able to grow new dopamine-producing nerve cells.

"These could one day be used to replace the nerve cells that are progressively lost in the Parkinson's brain."

Dr Kieran Breen
Director of Research and Development

Challenges for stem cell research

Using stem cells to treat Parkinson's is a realistic possibility. However, these therapies are still experimental and under development.

It is impossible to predict how long it will take for stem cell therapies to become a reality for people with Parkinson's as we need to tackle several research challenges.

Some key questions for stem cell research

• How to grow large quantities of dopamine-producing nerve cells
• How to make sure new nerve cells survive inside the Parkinson's brain
• How to get transplanted cells to connect and work normally inside the brain
• How to control newly transplanted cells to prevent tumours forming

We're currently supporting several research projects that aim to tackle these challenges and make stem cell treatments a reality for people with Parkinson's - here are a few that are underway at the moment:

Stem cells from skin cells: towards a cure for Parkinson's

• Dr Maeve Caldwell, University of Bristol
• £87,476 over 3 years
• Start date: October 2010
• PhD Studentship: H-1002

This project aims to develop stem cells from skin cells donated by people with Parkinson's. Maeve hopes that studying these cells and how they behave will help to develop better treatments and a cure for Parkinson's.

Stem cells from skin cells: towards a cure for Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 431KB)

Developing bone marrow stem cell therapy for Parkinson's

• Dr Alan Whone, University of Bristol
• £13,130 over 2 years
• Start date: July 2010
• Project grant: G-1005

Alan's team are investigating whether bone marrow stem cells have potential for developing treatments that can slow, stop or even reverse the development of Parkinson's - something no current treatments can do.

Developing bone marrow stem cell therapy for Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 48KB)

Making stem cells from people with Parkinson's

• Dr Tilo Kunath, University of Edinburgh
• £367,116 over 3 years
• Start date: January 2010
• Career development award: F-0902

Tilo's study aims to use cutting edge techniques to produce nerve cells from people with Parkinson's. These cells could one day provide an ideal source of cells for nerve cell transplants for people with Parkinson's.

Making stem cells from people with Parkinson's? - research project summary (PDF, 92KB)

Which proteins help dopamine-producing nerve cells develop from stem cells?

• Dr Rosemary Fricker, Keele University
• £195,373 over 3 years
• Start date: December 2009
• Project grant: G-0911

Rosemary hopes to work out what the vital ingredients are for growing dopamine-producing nerve cells from stem cells. One day nerve cells grown in the lab could be used to replace those that are lost in people with Parkinson's.

Which proteins help dopamine-producing nerve cells develop from stem cells? - research project summary (PDF, 202KB)

Rosemary also joined us in May 2011 for a Q&A session on stem cell research.

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