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Parkinson's Action Network Urges Cell Transplant Research U.S. Newswire 16 Mar 13:43 Parkinson's Action Network Urges Aggressive Pursuit of Research In Cell Transplantation To: National Desk, Health Reporter Contact: Melissa Narins, 703-780-0880, for the Parkinson's Action Network WASHINGTON, March 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Parkinson's Action Network (PAN) today described recent news accounts of a Parkinson's research finding as largely confused and inflammatory, and urged Congress and the Bush Administration to accelerate federal funding for research in cell transplantation for brain repair in Parkinson's and other brain disorders. The findings were published in the March 8 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, and have been reported on widely in the days since then. "The results of this research, placed in the appropriate context, should be heralded," said PAN President Joan Samuelson. "This study was the first rigorous human trial of cell transplantation for brain repair. While it was not a complete success, neuroscientists point to several promising conclusions that support the expectation that this will develop into an important solution for Parkinson's. First, however, adequate research must be done to speedily translate demonstrated promise into treatment. It must be supported aggressively, not in slow motion as in the past." "Of course, we are greatly frustrated that this therapy is not available now. That is a failure of politics, however, not of science," Samuelson continued. "Eminent scientists have described Parkinson's as the most curable brain disorder, and a treatment model for all other brain disorders. They also have predicted that it could be treated by brain repair in as few as five years -- if it receives funding adequate to the task. Unfortunately, it has not. This research was stalled for six years by a ban on federal support during the Reagan and (first) Bush Administrations, from 1989 to 1993. Since then, it still has not received the aggressive and focused effort it deserves." "Our work to educate the public and the Congress is made more difficult by news accounts, such as that in the New York Times on March 8, that use misleading and inflammatory language to describe the results." The March 8 study is described by experts in the field as proving the basic principle underlying the research effort: that transplantation of human dopamine cells to another human suffering dopamine cell loss from Parkinson's disease can produce symptomatic relief. "In 17 of the 20 patients who received transplants, the cells survived and began producing dopamine, the chemical lacking in people with Parkinson's symptoms," said Samuelson. "The study also documented symptomatic relief in some of the participants, who suffer from advanced cell loss. The remaining problems -- inadequate symptomatic relief and side effects in certain cases -- compel more study. This should be done quickly and thoroughly, pursuant to the National Institutes of Health's Parkinson's Research Plan, which calls for a $1 billion increase in funding for Parkinson's research over five years." ------ Based in Washington, D.C. and Santa Rosa, Calif., the Parkinson's Action Network (PAN) was founded in 1991 to provide a national voice for the Parkinson's community in public policy, with the goal of a Parkinson's cure by the earliest possible date. http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/Current_Releases/0316-117.html ******* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn