Regionalisation and differentiation of EPL-derived neurectoderm: directed formation of dopaminergic neurons in vitro.

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/250436

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

Neurodegenerative diseases result from the loss, damage or dysfunction of neural populations. For example, dopaminergic neurons are lost progressively in Parkinson's Disease. A potential method of treatment is 'cell therapy' which envisages transplantation of cells back to the site of cell loss, and restoration of function. Application of the cell therapy approach is limited by the unavailability of cells for transplantation. Embryonic stem (ES) cells provide a potential solution to this problem because they can be grown in unlimited numbers and differentiated to any kind of cell that is found in the embryo or adult. In this application we propose to continue our work on controlling the differentiation of ES cells to neural lineages. Production of dopaminergic neurons will be a particular focus. We will establish conditions that enable the production of these cells in a manner that is therapeutically relevant and predicted to be acceptable to regulatory authorities. Cells will be tested by transplantation into adult rats to assess their therapeutic potential, in particular persistence, integration and differentiation within the brain environment. Research required to achieve the production of transplantable cells will also provide basic information about the mechanisms by which the mammalian embryo allocates cells, specifically cells of the nervous system, to specific lineages during embryogenesis. This information will be important for the production of other neural cell types, which have therapeutic potential for treatment of diseases like stroke, motor neuron disease and spinal cord injury.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2003

End Date: 01-01-2005

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $250,500.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Cell Development (Incl. Cell Division And Apoptosis)

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

Cell Differentiation | Cell Growth/Differentiation | Cell Therapy | Developmental Neurobiology | Embryonic Development | Embryonic Stem Cell | Neurodegeneration | Neurodegenerative Disease | Neuronal Differentiation | Stem Cell Therapy

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