I am interested in stem cell research for traumatic brain injury,
especially any clinical trials on human subjects in the near future. 
I have a daughter who at the age of 11 had a traumatic brain injury
from a car accident.  She is now 20 years old.  She is a spastic
quadriplegic confined to a wheelchair.  She communicates through eye
blinks.  We reside in Henderson, NV, so I am quite interested in
research in California which just received 3 billion dollars over the
next ten years for stem cell research.  I would like to know what
researchers I should be following so when human trials do become
available I can contact them to become part of the clinical trial

Hello Opm1,

  I'm sorry to hear of your daughter's accident, and understand your
desire for stem cell research information. I hope you find the
information contained in this answer useful.

Some of the following sites will be more likely to have what you are
after than others, in the future.  I?ve included a broad range of
locations for you to follow up on, as I have a feeling you would take
your daughter to any research center that would be able to help you.
Stem cells trials of this nature though, are still a few years away,
so it seems.

  I understand that you asked for California trials, and I have
included several, but I start with a source from the University of
Minnesota, because of the following statement:

?Stem cell research offers hope for the future, but treatments for
humans are still years away. At this time, it is hard to pinpoint when
human clinical trials might begin, as complex research often
encounters unexpected hurdles. With current progress in stem cell
research, however, researchers believe they may one day cure such
diseases as Parkinson?s.?
Media Contact
Sarah Youngerman
612-624-4604
http://www.stemcell.umn.edu/stemcell/stemcell101/clinicaltrials.html

University of Minnesota
http://www.stemcell.umn.edu/

About Stem Cells
http://www.stemcell.umn.edu/stemcell/stemcell101.html


ClinicalTrials.gov
==================
Clinical Trials.gov is your best source for clinical trials.  Click
?Search within results? and enter ?Stem cells + brain injury? to find
trials for your daughter. (There are none now)
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/search?term=stem%2Bcells&submit=Search

Here is another way of searching through ClinicalTrials.gov
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct

Get answers to your questions about trials here(answers are
"clickable" on the actual site):
?For those considering participation in a clinical trial, the
following frequently asked questions are important in understanding
the role of the participant and the unique process of clinical trials.
·Who can participate in a clinical trial?
·What happens during a clinical trial?
·What is informed consent?
·What kind of preparation should a potential participant make for the
meeting with the research coordinator or doctor?
·What should people consider before participating in a trial?
·Does a participant continue to work with a primary health care
provider while in a trial?
·What are side effects and adverse reactions?
·What are the benefits and risks of participating in a clinical trial?
·How is the safety of the participant protected?
·Can a participant leave a clinical trial after it has begun?
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/info/resources


NIH
===
National Institutes of Health 
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/faqs.asp


MCG
===
Check the Medical College of Georgia site for updates:
http://www.mcg.edu/news/2004NewsRel/carroll.html
http://www.mcg.edu/news/newsbriefs/studies.html


PhaseOneTrials
==============
Search for stem cell clinical trials from PhaseOneTrials,  at Hvidovre
University Hospital, near Copenhagen, Denmark
PhaseOneTrials A/S
Hvidovre Hospital, 447
Kettegård Alle 30
2650 Hvidovre

Tel: +45 3634 4888
Fax: +45 3634 4889

Mail: phaseonetrials@phaseonetrials.com
http://www.phaseonetrials.com/search/index.asp




California
===========

Departments of  Anatomy and Neurobiology, Medicine, and  Pharmacology
University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-1275
http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/anatomy/

Contact Info: 
Dr. Aileen J. Anderson
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Reeve-Irvine Research Center
University of California, Irvine
1107 Gillespie Neuroscience
Research Facility
Irvine, CA 92697-4540
e-mail: aja@uci.edu   phone: 949-824-6750   fax: 949-824-9728   
http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/anatomy/anderson.html



Harry Openshaw, MD
City of Hope National Medical Center,
500 East Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA 91010 
e-mail: hopenshaw@coh.org
http://static.cjp.com/gems/bbmt/BBMT.8.5.Openshaw.PDF

City of Hope National Medical Center # 527
Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplant 
1500 East Duarte Road 
Duarte, CA 91010-0269 
Direct phone: (626) 256-4673 
Toll-free phone: (800) 535-7119 
http://www.coh.org 

http://www.marrow.org/cgi-bin/NETWORK/tc_idx.pl?ctr_id=527&p_src=state

http://robby.nstemp.com/photo3.html



The Burnham Institute
10901 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, CA  92037
Tel 858.646.3100
Fax 858.646.3199
info@burnham.org

http://www.burnham.org/AboutTheInstitute/ContactUs.asp

http://www.burnham.org/FacultyAndResearch/HealthRelatedResearch.asp



?Professor Evan Snyder and his team are leaders in the application of
stem cell biology to treat the injured nervous system. Snyder and his
colleagues transfer neuronal stem cells, immature cells that have the
capacity to become different types of nervous system cells, into
animal models of trauma. In some of these models, including a rat
model of spinal cord injury, they see dramatic improvements?partially
paralyzed rats regain their ability to walk at close to normal
capacity. Snyder?s team found that not only can the stem cells replace
missing cells, they also stimulate ?self-repair? by releasing factors
that nourish and protect damaged neurons and help them to
recover.Snyder and his colleagues have formed a Southern California
Stem Cell Consortium, which meets monthly at The Burnham Institute,
and were awarded one of the five grants by the National Institutes of
Health to teach a course on stem cells to the international scientific
community.In addition to repairing and growing neurons in cases of
spinal cord injury, it is vital to ensure that neurons make
appropriate connections with the muscles whose contractions they must
control. Professor Barbara Ranscht and her team are uncovering the
cues that guide growing nerve cells to their proper destinations.
Delineating this code should help researchers devise the most
effective therapeutic strategies possible, ensuring that new or
recovering nerve cells grow and connect in a manner that restores
movement to those incapacitated by brain and spinal cord
injury.?http://www.burnham.org/FacultyAndResearch/HealthRelatedResearch/BrainAndSpinalCordInjury.asp
 
Stem Cells and Regeneration
Evan Snyder, M.D., Ph.D. - Program Director
Fred Levine, M.D., Ph.D.
Jeanne F. Loring, Ph.D.
Mark Mercola, Ph.D.
Jeff Price, M.D., Ph.D. 
Alexey Terskikh, Ph.D.
Each of the above names is a hyperlink, on the following page (You can
contact these folks for more information on stem cell trials):
http://www.burnham.org/FacultyAndResearch/ResearchPrograms.asp 



UCI
?UCI is internationally recognized for its excellence in neuroscience
research and has outstanding scientists working on nerve regeneration
research. The UCI College of Medicine is noted for the quality of both
its Research and its Clinical programs; the relationship between the
two is critical for work in paralysis. The university is currently in
collaboration with a number of hospitals throughout the Western United
States in the treatment of paraplegic and quadriplegic patients.
Moreover, UCI is affiliated with the Long Beach Veterans
Administration, the largest treatment facility of its kind in the
United States.?
http://www.reeve.uci.edu/infoabout.html

http://www.reeve.uci.edu/keirstead.html



California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
? The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine ("The Institute"
or "CIRM") was established in early 2005 with the passage of
Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures
Initiative. The statewide ballot measure, which provided $3 billion in
funding for stem cell research at California universities and research
institutions, was approved by California voters on November 2, 2004,
and called for the establishment of a new state agency to make grants
and provide loans for stem cell research, research facilities and
other vital research opportunities.
The Independent Citizens Oversight Committee ("ICOC") is the 29-member
governing board for the Institute; the ICOC members represent
California's leading public universities, non-profit academic and
research institutions, patient advocacy groups and the biotechnology
industry.?
http://www.cirm.ca.gov/about/

For more information on the CIRM, please send your inquiry to: info@cirm.ca.gov
http://www.cirm.ca.gov/


Maura Hofstadter, PhD
Director of Education and Scientific Liaison
Reeve-Irvine Research Center
University of California at Irvine
2109 Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility
Irvine, CA, 92697-4292
Phone: 949-824-3993
FAX: 949-824-9700
E-mail: mhofstad@uci.edu
http://www.reeve.uci.edu/contact.html


Stanford
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/april6/med-longtaker-040605.html


University of California, San Francisco
http://www.ucsf.edu/research/stem_cells.html

UCSF Clinical Trials
http://medschool.ucsf.edu/clinical_trials/

Contact Information
http://www.ucsf.edu/resources/contacts.html


Colorado
=========
University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado

Good articles on stem cell research
http://www.nesu.mphy.lu.se/publications/pdf/Paul.pdf


Indiana
========

Fort Wayne Neurological Center, 2622 Lake Avenue
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
USA, Tel: +1 219 460 3100, Fax: +1 219 460 3130
Email: wyoung@astro.ocis.temple.edu



Massachusetts
==============

Harvard
Harvard Stem Cell Institute
42 Church Street
Cambridge, MA 02138

Phone: (617) 496-4050
Fax: (617) 496-6625
 
?Many neurological diseases are caused by the degeneration or injury
of specific cell types within the nervous system. Parkinson's disease,
for example, is caused by the loss of dopamine neurons in the
midbrain. Loss of motor function can arise when motor neurons in the
spinal cord and brain are destroyed by diseases such as amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) or when
their fibers are damaged by traumatic injury. Multiple sclerosis
involves disease of the cells that form myelin, the insulation that
allows efficient transmission of signals by nerve fibers in the brain
and spinal cord. Other examples include loss of vision and hearing,
which can arise from loss of photoreceptors and other cells in the
retina or hair cells in the inner ear, respectively. Studies on
animals suggest that it may be possible to repair many of these forms
of damage, either by transplantation of neural cells or by activating
stem cells that already exist within the patient's nervous system. In
the case of Parkinson's disease (PD), there is already encouraging
evidence from human patients that transplantation of dopamine neurons
may be beneficial, although more research is needed in order to
optimize this treatment and eliminate unwanted side effects. For ALS
and spinal cord injury (SCI), recent findings support the idea of
replacing dead or injured brain and spinal motor neurons by
controlling stem cells. One major challenge for the field is to find
ways to exert precise control over stem cells so that they can be
induced to form, for example, new dopamine neurons for PD or motor
neurons for ALS and SCI. Researchers at Harvard Stem Cell Institute
are actively investigating ways to convert stem cells into these and
other cell types that could be used for therapy.?
http://stemcell.harvard.edu/research/neurological.php

Executive Director
Charles Jennings, Ph.D.
 
Division Administrator
Karen Barkow
 
Program Coordinator
Rachel L. Police
 
Staff Assistant
Erica Zornick
 
http://stemcell.harvard.edu/

Stem Cell research at Harvard
http://stemcell.harvard.edu/research/


Pennsylvania
=============

?Stem cells are embryonic cells that have the capability of
differentiating into almost any type of cell in the body, depending on
the environmental cues. When injected into a model of an injured
brain, stem cells migrate toward the injured area, are exposed to the
cues that the nervous system presents, and turn into nerve cells or
glial cells (cells that support nerve cells in the brain). These cells
are being used for repair and regeneration in the injured brain.
"Clinically our goal is to assist head injured patients return to
their normal lives and restore their motor functions and their ability
to remember. We are very optimistic that one day stem cells will
reverse the effects of severe brain damage in humans," says Tracy K.
McIntosh, PhD, director of the Penn Head Injury Center and one of the
country's leading researchers in central nervous system (CNS) injury.

This experimental testing has had very encouraging results in
neurologically and cognitively impaired animals, improving their
balance, coordination and strength. It is unknown how soon stem cells
will be ready for human testing, but Penn scientists are hoping to
bring it to human clinical trials in the future.
The Penn Head Injury Center is a national and international leader in
the use of experimental models to develop novel therapeutic strategies
for TBI and is one of only five National Institutes of Health
(NIH)-designated centers nationwide. Dr. McIntosh leads the team of
core scientists and clinicians from a diversity of disciplines
including, neurosurgery, bioengineering, pharmacology, pathology,
neurology, pediatrics, neuroradiology, rehabilitation and emergency
medicine.?
Patients: To speak to a referral counselor, contact PENNHealth through
the online appointment request form or by calling 1-800-789-PENN
(7366).
http://www.pennhealth.com/phys_forum/pto/mar_apr02/head.html


Kentucky
=========
Jinhui Chen, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, 
Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center & 
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
Tel: (859)323-5688
Fax: (859)257-7715
Email: jchen@uky.edu
?Stem cell research offers unprecedented opportunities to explore
fundamental questions of biology and to develop novel medical
therapies for debilitating diseases such as neurodegenerative
diseases. Despite significant progress in our understanding that stem
cells have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into many cell
types, little is known about the molecular and cellular mechanisms
that control the behavior of stem cells. We have been able to culture
neural stem cells and manipulate the gene expressions both in vitro
and in vivo, which provide ideal systems to analyze the pathways that
control fate choices. The main focus of research in my laboratory will
be the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate the
proliferation, differentiation and survival of neural stem cells and
their progeny in the brain during both development and adulthood. Our
studies will seek to discover and describe molecules that control
cell-fate decision, both in vitro and in vivo. These molecules may be
used to expand the neural stem cells in vitro and induce the neural
stem cells to differentiate into specific neural cell types, which
will be crucial in the development of cell-based therapies and tissue
engineering for neurodegenerative diseases or nervous system
injuries.?

http://www2.mc.uky.edu/scobirc/faculty/chen.html


New York
========

Sloan-Kettering
?We have described how stem cells, derived from both rat and human
midbrain, can be proliferated and differentiated into dopamine neurons
in culture. Transplantation of such stem cell-derived dopamine neurons
into the brain can improve behavioral symptoms in animal models of
Parkinson's Diseases.
Similar strategies are now being pursued for generating other neuronal
and glial cell types, including GABA neurons and oliogodendrocytes.
These cell types will be tested in animal models of Huntington's
Disease and demyelination.?
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/12045.cfm

Contact Information
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/8228.cfm



Washington State
=================
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research and the Department of Medicine,
University of Washington, Seattle Washington
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center 
1100 Fairview Avenue N.
PO Box 19024
Seattle, WA 98109-1024

http://www.fhcrc.org/

Searching Fred Hutchinson?s Clinical Trials
http://www.fhcrc.org/search?q=stem+cell+%2B+clinical+trials&btnG=Search&restrict=Public&site=FHCRC-Site&output=xml_no_dtd&client=FHCRC-Site&lr=&proxystylesheet=FHCRC-Site

?The University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center have been pioneers in adult stem cell research. We know the
importance of adult stem cells in developing medical therapies but we
also know the limitations of the cells.
Embryonic stem cells have the potential to develop into any type of
cell in the human body. Researchers have developed retina, heart and
nerve cells from embryonic stem cells. But adult stem cells lack this
versatility, and do not exist for some tissues.
In the coming decades, we could see treatments developed for a broad
range of diseases as a result of embryonic stem cell research. With a
strong community of scientists and a research infrastructure already
in place, Washington has the potential to be a leading contributor to
this new era of science.?
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/219669_stemcellrebut12.html


Additional Information on Stem Cell Research
===================================
Order the Who?s Who of Stem Cell Research:
http://www.stemcellresearchnews.com/

Stem Cell Headlines
http://www.stemcellresearchnews.com/Stem_Cell_News.htm

?Principal researchers on these trials included Dr. Sanberg, who is
director of the USF Center for Aging and Brain Repair and director of
Neurosurgical Research; Dr. Sanchez Ramos, Professor of neurology and
holder of the Ellis Chair in Parkinson's Disease Research; Alison
Willing, PhD, member of the USF Center for Aging and Brain Repair; and
Michael Chopp, PhD, Professor and Vice Chairman of Neurology, Henry
Ford Hospital.?
http://www.brainjurycure.org/1_pages/stemcells.htm

Brain Briefings
http://apu.sfn.org/content/Publications/BrainBriefings/stemcell.html

http://www.isscr.org/science/asiapacific.htm

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2004/10/prweb171710.htm

http://hdlighthouse.org/see/xplant/cord.htm

This newsgroup may interest you:
http://groups.msn.com/CellNEWS/humangenome.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=24&LastModified=4675506105422736477


Additional information on Brain Injury
======================================
?The University of Florida and 14 other centers will soon participate
in clinical trials testing a drug, donepezil (more commonly known by
the trade name Aricept, and manufactured by Eisai Co. Ltd.), in
patients with brain trauma.  The drug is currently used to to slow
memory decline in Alzheimer?s disease.  It is thought that because
patients with brain trauma often have trouble with memory and
cognition as with Alzheimer?s disease, an effective treatment for
Alzheimer?s could be helpful for treating brain injury.  Likewise,
people that have received brain trauma have been found to be more
likely to develop Alzheimer?s later in life.  Thus, a treatment that
alleviates the symptoms of brain trauma could also have the effect of
stemming the onset of Alzheimer?s.  This is the first randomized
clinical trial ever conducted that treats chronic traumatic brain
injury.  It does not necessitate the usage of embryonic or fetal stem
cells.?
http://www.christianity.com/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID4211%7CCHID278062%7CCIID714568,00.html
http://unisci.com/stories/20013/0801012.htm


Additionally, these answers may be of interest to you:
=======================================================
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=370070

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=301480

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=405047

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=196851


I hope this is the information you were seeking. If not, please
refrain from rating/closing this question without asking for an Answer
Clarification. This will enable me to assist you further, if possible.
I wish your daughter all the best!

Sincerely, Crabcakes

Search Terms
=============
Regenerative Therapy + stem cells + brain injury
Stem cell research + brain injury
Stem cell + clinical trials + brain injury
stem cell protocols + brain injury

---

Request for Answer Clarification by opm1-ga on 20 May 2005 15:51 PDT

Hello Crabcakes,

Thank you so much for all the great information.  I want to go through
your response thoroughly because I know I will have some more
questions for you in a week or so.

Some of the same sites you mention I have already seen and I have been
monitioring them on a regular basis, but you have given me many more
that I haven't looked at yet.

You are right about the fact that I would take my daughter anywhere
that she could get help.  You do mention one trial in Denmark.  I have
read a lot of great stem cell news coming out of China.  What do you
think of foreign stem cell research/clinical trials presently?

You also mention the clinical trial of Aricept.  My daughter has been
on Aricept for several years.  We recently increased her dosage from 5
mg per day to 10 mg per day.  I don't know how much it has been
helping her.  We use Aricept in conjuction with Adderal to increase
her awareness level.

Thank you so much for all the infomation.  I will get back with you
with more questions if that is OK.

Sincerely,
Opm1

---

Clarification of Answer by crabcakes-ga on 22 May 2005 22:30 PDT

Hi Opm1,

   Take your time reviewing the answer. Regarding overseas stem cell
facilities - I would investigate a bit more cautiously. I don't know
about China, but Singapore is a leading stem cell research country. I
would not hesitate to go to countries that have known high standards,
especially in blood banking, aseptic/sterile technique and research.
Denmark, Germany, England, Australia, Canada and Singapore would be
among my first choices outside of the US. I also believe Italy and
Spain are doing stem cell transplant research as well, and I would
also consider these countries if I were in need.

   I'll be checking for your clarification, should you have one.

   Regards, Crabcakes

---

Request for Answer Clarification by opm1-ga on 05 Jul 2005 12:46 PDT

Hi Crabcakes,

I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get back with you.  I wanted to
thank you so much for all the excellent information.

If I have further questions can I specifically request you to answer the question?

Your help has been much appreciated.

Thanks,
Opm1

---

Clarification of Answer by crabcakes-ga on 05 Jul 2005 12:54 PDT

Hi Opm1,

   There is no problem... you may take all the time you need in
reading an answer! :-)

   Of course, you may direct questions to me, if you like! Simply
place my name in the Subject line, along with a subject. For example
"Subject - For Crabcakes please"
   You may close this question now by rating, if you like.
   Sincerely, Crabcakes

Excellent and very informative information.  I would recommend this
service, and especially the researcher Crabcakes to anyone.

This is the very first question I came across while researching
questions about Long Beach, CA.  Thank You STEM CELL - I've only heard
great things about it from the patient's end!  (More than one
patient!!)

I too have a daughter with TBI and as a result I follow this research
carefully.  There is an excellent, but very superfical article in the
recent National Geographic that touches on the research going on in
Asia right now.  There is also an interesting story moving on the wire
now about Roy Horn being treated using some form of stem cell therapy,
at the Leonardis Klinik in Germany
http://www.leonardis-klinik.de/index2.htm

Thank you for the nice comments!
Sincerely, Crabcakes