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OHRI stem cell transplant trial for multiple sclerosis profiled on national news


February 22, 2009

A CTV W-Five documentary about experimental stem cell therapies for multiple sclerosis featured a clinical trial led by Drs. Mark Freedman and Harry Atkins at OHRI. The trial is investigating whether stem cell therapy can be used to replace a patient's damaged immune system with a new, healthy one. Strong chemotherapy is used to destroy the existing immune system, and then purified bone marrow stem cells (taken previously from the same patient) are used to regenerate a new one.

For more information, please see this press release about the trial, or see the complete description of the trial on the website of the MS Society of Canada. The Stem Cell Network also provides general information on stem cell research for MS. Patients interested in experimental therapies for MS should speak with their specialists.