Scientists have made a discovery that could revolutionise stem cell repair therapy for Parkinson’s disease.

The pioneering research – funded by the Hollywood star Michael J. Fox’s research foundation – will offer hope to thousands of patients who currently rely on cocktails of drugs to help them manage symptoms of the brain disorder. 

Stem cell treatment involves replacing damaged and dead dopamine-producing nerve cells within the brain with healthy cells.

The technique uses stem cells – special cells of the body that can turn into different types of cells. 

The stem cells are converted in the laboratory into the type of brain cell required for repairing the Parkinson’s brain. These are transplanted directly into the brain during minor surgery.

However, although these stem cells easily convert into brain cells in the laboratory they are much less able to do so once they are in the brain. 

This is because the stem cells turned brain cells need to be transplanted into the brain at a very early stage in their conversion, and research shows once they are in the brain most of the cells fail to convert into the mature cells required for the therapy to work. 

In the breakthrough work funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and Science Foundation Ireland, an Irish-led research team has shown that transplanting immature cells in a new collagen gel dramatically improves their survival and maturation in the brain.

The liquid gel can be injected into the brain with the immature brain cells during minor surgery. 

The research, published in the Journal of Neural Engineering, shows that the gel then mimics the conditions in the laboratory allowing the cells to survive and continue converting into the brain cells required to repair the Parkinson’s brain.

Professor Eilís Dowd, a leading neuroscientist from the University of Galway, said: “Our hydrogel has been shown to provide a microenvironment for cells to be nurtured, supported and protected after they are transplanted into the brain, and this dramatically improves their maturation and reparative ability. This hydrogel offers hope for improving brain repair therapy for people living with Parkinson’s.”

David Dexter, Director of Research at Parkinson’s UK welcomed the news. He said: “The hydrogel developed by Professor Eilís Dowd provides support for transplanted cells, leading to a greater number maturing within the brain. Such a technology will certainly improve the efficiency of replacing lost dopamine and make stem cell transplants more of a successful therapeutic approach, which is a welcome development.”

Jessica Tome Garcia, Associate Director of Research Programmes at the Michael J Fox Foundation said the research is an “area of great interest,” adding that The Michael J Fox Foundation is “committed” to addressing “current therapy limitations through research programmes” such as this

Although the concept of brain repair for Parkinson’s has been in development for some time, the world’s first clinical trials are only now underway.

Three trials, in the US, South Korea and Europe are underway.

The Swedish trial, led by Lund University and Cambridge University transplanted its first patient in Skane University Hospital in February 2023.

Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative condition in which brain cells slowly degenerate and die leading to a progressive deterioration in a person’s ability to control movement.

In the UK, around 153,000 people are living with Parkinson’s.

Currently, 1 in every 37 people will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s at some point in their life. Sufferers include musician and TV personality Ozzy Osborne, comedian Billy Connolly, and former TV presenter Jeremy Paxman.