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Turning Problems Into Promise

“Given the potential promise that cell replacement therapy holds for treating Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, it’s imperative that we figure out why some transplants succeed while others fail, and how to overcome the side effects,” says Iacovitti, a leading expert on cell therapies for Parkinson’s and a professor of neurology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

Historically, Iacovitti says, there has been no good way to isolate dopamine neurons from other cells, so transplants have included “extra” cells in addition to the desired dopamine-producing cells. It is also difficult to standardize the number of dopamine neurons transplanted. These technical problems may account for the severe dyskinesias and possibly the limited response seen in some people who have received transplants.

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