Abstract
The massive surge of interest in stem cell biology over the last 20 years is reflected in the 100-fold increase in related publications over that time, and the emergence of the term ‘stem cell’ into the public consciousness. Much of the interest has been generated by the often promised health benefits that stem cell transplantation could bring to hitherto untreatable diseases, but to what extent are we really able to manipulate these cells for therapeutic use in neurodegenerative disease? Is stem cell therapy a reality or a distant dream? In addressing these questions, it is important to recognize that the answers depend on which stem cells are being considered for use as donor cells, what demands are placed on the cells and which target diseases are being considered for treatment.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
A Rosser undertakes ad hoc reviewing for applications to the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. The authors have recieved grants from the Medical Research Council (500971) and Parkinson‘s Disease UK (501431) for stem cell research. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.