Topic Overview:

Cell therapy for stroke is gradually finding its way from bench to bedside. However, many factors that influence stroke recovery remain poorly understood. The use of preclinical animal models can help define, for example, where to inject cells or whether the extent of brain damage influences recovery potential. Human neural stem cells (hNSCs), which produce brain tissue during development, hold particular promise in improving stroke outcomes. The cells not only secrete paracrine factors that support host plasticity and angiogenesis but they can also differentiate into neurons, potentially replacing lost tissue.

To carefully control their expansion and differentiation, Modo’s research team conditionally immortalized and expanded hNSCs, producing a clonal population of cells to treat a large cohort of patients. Merely injecting hNSCs into the brain is, however, insufficient to replace lost tissue. Successful in situ tissue engineering requires the additional use of biomaterials and image-guidance. Despite advances, the recreation of lost tissue and noninvasive MRI guidance pose further significant challenges.