Stem Cell Lines Released For Neuropathy Research

Today's short but nonetheless important post from healio.com (see link below) announces a breakthrough in future stem cell research for nerve damage. You may have noticed more and more articles appearing over the last two years regarding the successes with stem cell therapy and neuropathy but it's been patchy and generally based on relatively small research studies. Now that a large amount of stem cell lines have been released for research, we can expect much faster progress in this promising line of neuropathy treatment. The article appears to be directed towards lines from the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA) but the widespread ramifications are part of a domino effect in stem cell research. A question of 'watch this space' but progress is being made so hang in there!

New stem cell collection available for neuropathy research
June 22, 2016
 
The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute and the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association recently announced a new collaboration to make stem cells available to researchers. According to a press release, the stem cell lines represent the largest collection available for a variety of neuropathy disorders of known genetic causation.

The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute and the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA) originally collaborated in 2014 to collect fibroblasts from patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth diseases and turn the samples into induced pluripotent stem cell lines. The stem cell lines will be available for investigators through the NYSCF Repository. Of the 19 lines created, 11 are currently available and eight are undergoing reprogramming.

“This important collaboration has resulted in the largest ever number of CMT stem cell lines available for research around the world. This is a milestone for the field,” Susan L. Solomon, chief executive officer and cofounder of NYSCF, said in the release.

Patrick A Livney, chief executive officer of CMTA, said he “is proud of the association’s [Strategy to Accelerate Research] STAR platform, dedicated to finding first treatments for various CMT diseases. As STAR’s progress continues, the CMTA wants to enable and include all stakeholders interested in that mission to join in the effort. This NYSCF collaboration achieves that goal.”

For more information: To order stem cell lines, visit www.nyscf.org/repository.

References:

www.cmtausa.org/

www.nyscf.org/

http://www.healio.com/orthotics-prosthetics/health-care-updates/news/online/%7B7c6b092b-610b-4708-88f9-c53c4fde7d8f%7D/new-stem-cell-collection-available-for-neuropathy-research