2006
Eighth Annual Beckman Scholars Symposium
Stem Cell Research Panel Presenter
|
Hans
S. Keirstead, Ph.D. Stem Cell Treatments for Spinal Cord Injury |
| Demyelination
contributes to loss of function following spinal cord injury, and
so a potential therapeutic strategy involves replacing myelin forming
cells. Here, we show that transplantation of human embryonic stem
cell (hESC) -derived oligodendrocyte progenitors (OPCs) into adult
rat spinal cord injuries enhances remyelination and promotes recovery
of motor function. We hypothesize that hESC OPCs promote neural repair
and behavioral recovery through multiple mechanisms, including transplant-mediated
remyelination and transplant-mediated effects on endogenous cells.
We present both efficacy and safety data concerning the use of this
cell population in transplant regimes, and regulatory concerns regarding
the translation of stem cell technologies into human treatments.
|
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Dr.
Hans S. Keirstead is an Associate Professor at the Reeve-Irvine
Research Center, and Co-Director of the Stem Cell Research Center
at the University of California at Irvine. The Canadian-born neuroscientist
received his PhD from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver,
Canada. His PhD thesis concerned his invention of a novel method
for regenerating damaged spinal cords, and formed the basis of several
worldwide patents as well as the formation of a company in 1999.
This work constituted the first demonstration of functional regeneration
of the injured adult spinal cord, and for his achievements he received
the Cameron Award for the outstanding PhD thesis in Canada. Dr.
Keirstead then moved to Cambridge England, where he conducted 4
years of post-doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge furthering
his studies of spinal cord injury and beginning studies of multiple
sclerosis. He was awarded Canadian and British Fellowships to support
this work. He received the distinct honor of election to two senior
academic posts, Fellow of the Governing Body of Downing College,
and Senate Member of the University of Cambridge, and was the youngest
member to be elected to those positions. In 2000, Dr. Keirstead
joined the Reeve-Irvine Research Center at the University of California
at Irvine. The Reeve-Irvine Research Center, founded by the late
Christopher Reeve and philanthropist Joan Irvine, is a leading center
for spinal cord injury research. Dr. Keirstead directs a large team
investigating the cellular biology and treatment of spinal cord
trauma, research that also has significance for multiple sclerosis
and other diseases of the nervous system. In order to bring his
treatments to clinical trials, he has founded or partnered with
biotechnology companies to fund and conduct pre-clinical and clinical
development. Dr. Keirstead was recently awarded the Distinguished
Assistant Professor of UCI Award, the UCI Academic Senate's highest
honor, and was thereafter promoted to Associate Professor with tenure.
In 2005, he was awarded the UCI Innovation Award for innovative
research leading to corporate and clinical development. |