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Information on Stem Cell Research

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Introduction

Stem Cells are unique in that they have the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body, including brain cells, but they also retain the ability to produce more stem cells, a process termed self renewal. There are two major categories of stem cell: embryonic stem (ES) cells and adult or somatic stem cells.  One difference between them is that ES cells are able to differentiate into any type of cell, whereas adult stem cells are more restricted in their potential.  The promise of both embryonic and adult stem cells for use in future therapies is exciting, but significant technical hurdles remain that will only be overcome through years of intensive research.

The NINDS supports a diverse array of research on embryonic and adult stem cells, from studies of the basic biology of stem cells in the developing and adult mammalian brain to studies focusing on nervous system disorders such as ALS or spinal cord injury.  For example, investigators are looking at how ES cells can be used to derive dopamine-producing neurons that might alleviate symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease or how somatic stem cells can generate myelin producing oligodendrocytes for remyelination following acute and chronic brain injury.  Although there is much promise for using stem cells to treat neurological diseases in humans, there is much work to be done before stem cell-based therapies are ready for the clinic.

The NIH Stem Cell Information Web page provides additional information about stem cell research at NIH.  Also, see the MedlinePlus stem cell page for more health information regarding stem cells.

To learn more about investigational therapies, including stem cells, one can search the National Institutes of Health (NIH) online clinical trials database, which has information about federally and privately funded clinical research studies on a wide range of diseases and conditions.  You can access this database at ClinicalTrials.gov to learn about the location of research studies in need of participants, as well as their purpose and criteria for patient participation.

NIH Policy and Implementation

The Director of the NINDS, Dr. Story Landis is the Chair of the NIH Stem Cell Task Force, which was created to enable and accelerate the pace of stem cell research and to seek the advice of scientific leaders in stem cell research.  For comprehensive information on NIH policies related to stem cell research, visit the NIH Stem Cell Information web page.

NINDS Stem Cell Research on Campus

The Intramural Research Program of NINDS is one of the largest neuroscience research centers in the world. Investigators in the NINDS intramural program conduct research in the basic, translational, and clinical neurosciences. Their specific interests cover a broad range of neuroscience research including stem cell biology.  Listings of NINDS intramural researchers by laboratory affiliation and research areas are available online (http://intra.ninds.nih.gov/investigators.asp).

Press Releases from NINDS

News articles from NINDS

Funding Opportunities at NINDS

NINDS Contact Information

David Owens, Ph.D.
Program Director
do47h@nih.gov
Phone: (301) 496-1447

Last updated January 13, 2009