Stem Cell Projects

Detailed information of Stem Cell Projects being undertaken is available at: http://www.stemcells.unsw.edu.au/psychweb.nsf/page/SCL_Research

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Projects

Our group has published a series of studies characterising the nature of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), or 'canine dementia', including a clinical rating scale and novel memory paradigm. CCD has many parallels with human Alzeheimer's dementia, and therefore may represent a key 'bridging model' between rodents and humans for testing the potential of stem cell therapy. Towards this end, our group has also developed a protocol for deriving high purity neurons from adult canine skin via the isolation and expansion of skin-derived neuroprecursors (SKINPs). Upon translplantion of SKINPs into the aged rodent brain, these cells engraft into specific subparts of the brain's memory centre (hippocampus), accompanied by improvement in episodic memory. We therefore propose to bring these research streams together by testing whether patient-specific transplantation of SKINPs into the canine hippocampus can lead to the reversal of the cognitive and clinical signs of CCD. Successful outcomes would open the door to human clinical trials for the curative treatment of Alzheimer's dementia, which currently affects 26 million individuals worldwide and for which there is no effective management. These studies include:

• Natural History of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
• Skin-to-Brain Stem Cell Technology
• Transplant of Skin-based Neural Stem Cells for Reversal of Cognitive Impairment