Affiliations: [a] Department of Neurosurgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA | [b] Neurosurgery Service and Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Care Center, Hunter Holmes McGuire Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA | [c] Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA | [x] Crawford Research Institute, Shepherd Center, 2020 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA. Tel.: +1 404 367 1240; Fax: +1 404 350 3081; E-mail: ron_seal@shepherd.org | [y] Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 980661, 1223 East Marshall Street, Richmond, VA 23298-0661, USA. E-mail: dcifu@hsc.vcu.edu
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Helen L. Fillmore, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980631, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. Tel.: +1 804 828 9663; Fax: +1 804 827 1623; E-mail: hfillmor@hsc.vcu.edu
Abstract: Much has been learned from recent clinical trials exploring cell transplantation as a means to treat Parkinson's disease. Additionally, much information is being gathered in the science arena on the method of cultivation and expansion of neural stem/progenitor cells as well as catheter and cell delivery methodology. Cell replacement remains a potential promising treatment option for Parkinson's disease, however several obstacles must be overcome in order to achieve successful outcomes in future clinical trials. Hurdles include but are not limited to the identification of a reliable method of cultivation and expansion of neural stem/progenitor cells, the optimization of methods for cell delivery and the optimization of location or locations for transplantation.
