Michael J. Fox sidelines stem cells for Parkinson's

If ever we develop a DeLorean-based time machine, it would be handy to send information into the past revealing what kind of medical research to focus on.

For years, actor Michael J. Fox was on the front line of the US's "stem cell wars", arguing that embryonic stem cells could cure conditions like his own ? Parkinson's disease.

Last week Fox revealed he now believes that other lines of research hold more promise. "There have been some issues with stem cells, some problems along the way," Fox told ABC News. "An answer may come from stem cell research but it's more than likely to come from another area."

Complicated business

The Michael J. Fox Foundation, based in New York City, is still backing stem cell research, says its chief scientific adviser, Gene Johnson of Washington University in St Louis, but has shifted its emphasis in recent years. "Using stem cells as therapeutic agents is a very complicated business," Johnson says.

Obstacles include working out how to get transplanted cells to integrate into the brain, and developing "off-the-shelf" cell lines that can be used for any recipient.

Meanwhile, other avenues are speeding towards clinical trials. These include neurotrophic factors ? proteins that promote the survival of nerve cells ? as well as antibodies that target the alpha-synuclein protein, which may be a cause of the brain damage seen in Parkinson's.

If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.

Have your say

Only subscribers may leave comments on this article. Please log in.

Only personal subscribers may leave comments on this article

Subscribe now to comment.

All comments should respect the New Scientist House Rules. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please use the "Report" link in that comment to report it to us.

If you are having a technical problem posting a comment, please contact technical support.

key largo arnold palmer invitational ryan madson louisiana primary syracuse basketball chipper jones chipper jones