"Adipose-derived" stem cells may help traumatic brain injury

Feng Lin, director of research at the USA's Bio-Matrix Scientific Group has said he believes that an effective new therapy for "traumatic brain  injury" using autologous "adipose-derived" stem cells represents a  potential cure for TBI. According to Dr Lin, both Bio-Matrix and Entest  BioMedical are now studying the therapeutic effect of fat stem cells on  traumatic brain injury-associated brain ischemia and inflammation and  replacement of damaged neurons with neuron cells differentiated from fat  cells. The two groups recently submitted a research summary proposal to  the US Army, with a goal of funding traumatic brain injury treatment  research. BMSN is a San Diego-based biotechnology research and  development company, which wholly owns Entest BioMedical. Entest is  focusing on stem cell research applications, as well as testing  procedures for diabetes.

"Currently there is no effective therapeutic approach to reverse the  initial brain damage caused by trauma. Brain cells or neurons have  limited ability for self-repair and spontaneous axonal regeneration.  Extensive studies have been focusing on novel therapeutic strategies for  traumatic brain injury. In my opinion, adipose-derived stem cells could  possess the capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into diverse  cell types such as neural cells. We could be looking at an exciting and  potential cure for traumatic brain injury patients," said Dr Lin.