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| Foetal cells 'to treat strokes' | Foetal cells 'to treat strokes' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A UK company is applying for permission to transplant stem cells made from human foetal tissue into the brains of stroke patients. | A UK company is applying for permission to transplant stem cells made from human foetal tissue into the brains of stroke patients. |
| Guildford-based ReNeuron has told the BBC it has convincing lab evidence that the cells could potentially regenerate brain cells damaged by a stroke. | Guildford-based ReNeuron has told the BBC it has convincing lab evidence that the cells could potentially regenerate brain cells damaged by a stroke. |
| It has applied to the US Food and Drug Administration to carry out human trials on 12 stroke patients. | It has applied to the US Food and Drug Administration to carry out human trials on 12 stroke patients. |
| However, opponents have said it is a "sick proposal". | However, opponents have said it is a "sick proposal". |
| We can provide a renewable source of cells in order to treat a large patient population Dr Eric Miljan | We can provide a renewable source of cells in order to treat a large patient population Dr Eric Miljan |
| The ReNeuron team have successfully extracted stem cells from the developing brain area of a 12 week old aborted foetus. | The ReNeuron team have successfully extracted stem cells from the developing brain area of a 12 week old aborted foetus. |
| These cells have begun to specialise into brain cells and have the ability to rapidly generate brain tissue. | These cells have begun to specialise into brain cells and have the ability to rapidly generate brain tissue. |
| According to Dr Eric Miljan, Reneuron's head of stem cell discovery, when the foetal stem cells were injected into the brains of rats in which a stroke had been induced their movement recovered. | According to Dr Eric Miljan, Reneuron's head of stem cell discovery, when the foetal stem cells were injected into the brains of rats in which a stroke had been induced their movement recovered. |
| Tests showed that blood flow and brain activity were restored in the damaged area. | Tests showed that blood flow and brain activity were restored in the damaged area. |
| Dr Miljan said: "We're very excited. There have been a battery of tests. There have been a series of animal safety experiments. And they work. | Dr Miljan said: "We're very excited. There have been a battery of tests. There have been a series of animal safety experiments. And they work. |
| " We feel that we are ready to go into patient trials." | " We feel that we are ready to go into patient trials." |
| The company is to submit its research results to the FDA, and if the human trial is approved it could begin early next year. | The company is to submit its research results to the FDA, and if the human trial is approved it could begin early next year. |
| Safety concerns | Safety concerns |
| But the regulators will want to be satisfied that the trials will be safe and hold out a realistic chance of doing some good. | But the regulators will want to be satisfied that the trials will be safe and hold out a realistic chance of doing some good. |
| In particular they will want to look closely at a crucial part of the treatment which involves genetically modifying the foetal brain cells. | In particular they will want to look closely at a crucial part of the treatment which involves genetically modifying the foetal brain cells. |
| The researchers incorporate a gene called c-myc which is associated with normal cell division. | The researchers incorporate a gene called c-myc which is associated with normal cell division. |
| However, when there are abnormalities with cells the gene can be involved in the uncontrollable replication of cells and lead to cancer. | However, when there are abnormalities with cells the gene can be involved in the uncontrollable replication of cells and lead to cancer. |
| ReNeuron say they have safely harnessed this property by modifying this gene to make its action fully controllable. | ReNeuron say they have safely harnessed this property by modifying this gene to make its action fully controllable. |
| They add the modified version of the gene so that it can cause a small number of foetal stem cells to multiply when a chemical is added. In effect, this provides a biochemical way of photocopying the cells. | They add the modified version of the gene so that it can cause a small number of foetal stem cells to multiply when a chemical is added. In effect, this provides a biochemical way of photocopying the cells. |
| The replication stops once the chemical is taken away. | The replication stops once the chemical is taken away. |
| Ethics case | Ethics case |
| Michael Hunt, ReNeuron's CEO, said: "We have proven with reams of experimental data that the system is fully controllable. | Michael Hunt, ReNeuron's CEO, said: "We have proven with reams of experimental data that the system is fully controllable. |
| It's a sick proposal. It involves cannibalising an unborn child John SmeetonSociety for the Protection of Unborn Children | It's a sick proposal. It involves cannibalising an unborn child John SmeetonSociety for the Protection of Unborn Children |
| "We have also shown that the cells we grow using this system show absolutely no abnormalities throughout the growth process. | "We have also shown that the cells we grow using this system show absolutely no abnormalities throughout the growth process. |
| "It is very important for us to be able to demonstrate these safety characteristics before moving our therapy forward into stroke patients." | "It is very important for us to be able to demonstrate these safety characteristics before moving our therapy forward into stroke patients." |
| Reneuron's idea is to produce unlimited quantities of stem cells from just one foetal tissue sample. | Reneuron's idea is to produce unlimited quantities of stem cells from just one foetal tissue sample. |
| According to Dr Miljan, this makes their treatment potentially commercially viable and ethically more acceptable. | According to Dr Miljan, this makes their treatment potentially commercially viable and ethically more acceptable. |
| "We only take one single piece of tissue and for that we can grow up enough cells to potentially treat all eligible patients. | "We only take one single piece of tissue and for that we can grow up enough cells to potentially treat all eligible patients. |
| "And we never have to go back to that tissue again. We can provide a renewable source of cells in order to treat a large patient population." | "And we never have to go back to that tissue again. We can provide a renewable source of cells in order to treat a large patient population." |
| Holy grail | Holy grail |
| Joe Corner, of the UK's stroke Association, said the research was "very interesting". | Joe Corner, of the UK's stroke Association, said the research was "very interesting". |
| He said: "The Holy grail for stroke research has been to find a way of regenerating the damaged part of the brain. | He said: "The Holy grail for stroke research has been to find a way of regenerating the damaged part of the brain. |
| "Until now its been thought that the damage was irreversible. | "Until now its been thought that the damage was irreversible. |
| "Most treatments and therapies have relied on teaching the patient to use different parts of their brain through physiotherapy. | "Most treatments and therapies have relied on teaching the patient to use different parts of their brain through physiotherapy. |
| "But we are beginning to see some promising signs in potential stem cell treatments and ReNeuron's approach does seem very exciting." | "But we are beginning to see some promising signs in potential stem cell treatments and ReNeuron's approach does seem very exciting." |
| However, John Smeaton, director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, was completely opposed to the research. | |
| He said: "It's a sick proposal. It involves cannibalising an unborn child. | He said: "It's a sick proposal. It involves cannibalising an unborn child. |
| "It's an unethical in every way - killing one member of the human race to help another. We are totally opposed to this." | "It's an unethical in every way - killing one member of the human race to help another. We are totally opposed to this." |