Stroke Association statement on stem cell research in stroke

Dr Shamim Quadir, Research Communications Manager at the Stroke Association, said: “In the UK, someone has a stroke every three and half minutes, and over half of all stroke survivors are left with a disability. One of the few existing treatments which can limit brain damage caused by stroke is thrombolysis. However, this drug treatment can only be used to treat strokes caused by blood clots and must be administered within the first 4.5 hours after a stroke. There is an urgent need for alternative treatments to help prevent the debilitating impact of stroke.

“Although small, the latest trial suggests that treatment by injecting modified, human, adult stem cells into the brain is safe and it may be able to restore movement for stroke survivors. The trial adds to a growing body of early clinical evidence that suggests stem cell treatment could aid recovery in people months, and even years, after their stroke. This is a positive development and brings much-needed hope for many people living with a disability.

We look forward to the results of the Phase II trial, which could tell us much more about this type of stem cell treatment. Although it’s still early days in stem cell research, these findings could potentially lead to life changing treatments for stroke patients in the future."