A CLINICAL TRIAL in Houston to gauge the efficacy of treating children with traumatic brain injury by using stem cells from their own bone marrow was a SUCCESS.
The clinical trial by The University of Texas Medical School and Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital was the first to apply stem cells to treat traumatic brain injury. Treatment does not involve embryonic stem cells.
"There is no reparative treatment for traumatic brain injury," said co-principal investigator Dr. Charles Cox. "All we can do now is try to prevent secondary damage by relieving pressure on the brain caused by the initial injury."
The trial was built on research indicating bone marrow derived stem cells can migrate damage to an injured area of the brain. Such stem cells can differentiate into new neurons, will support cells and induce brain repair.
As a Phase I clinical trial, the project's first emphasis was to establish the safety of the procedure, with a secondary goal of observing possible therapeutic effects.
THE STUDY showed that with bone marrow stem cell therapy, less intervention was necessary and the period of time spent in neurointensive care was reduced by one-half.
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