Personalized Parkinson's cell therapy using patient-derived stem cells
Human iPSC-Based Personalized Cell Therapy of PD
This project develops personalized therapies that use a patient's own induced pluripotent stem cells to replace lost dopamine neurons in people with Parkinson's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mclean Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belmont, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323114 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to take cells from people with Parkinson's disease, reprogram them into clinical-grade induced pluripotent stem cells, and turn those into midbrain dopamine neurons for transplant. The team has developed chemical methods to remove leftover undifferentiated cells that could form tumors and new reprogramming techniques to make safer cells. They test these personalized cells in lab models and animal models of Parkinson's before moving toward human treatment. The approach is designed to avoid the need for long-term immune suppression by using each patient's own cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who are willing to provide tissue samples and, in later phases, consider a cell-transplant procedure, typically adults.
Not a fit: People without Parkinson's disease, those with advanced dementia or medical conditions that prevent surgery, or people unwilling to donate tissue or undergo follow-up would likely not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could restore lost dopamine-producing neurons and improve motor symptoms while avoiding long-term immune suppression.
How similar studies have performed: Similar cell-transplant approaches have shown promise in animal models and in limited early human trials, but fully personalized iPSC-based therapies remain experimental.
Where this research is happening
Belmont, United States
- Mclean Hospital — Belmont, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Kwang-Soo — Mclean Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kim, Kwang-Soo
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.