Re: Replacement of neurons that have died due to stroke (Ischemia)

Sarah: You ask a multi-faceted question.

Stroke kills neurons due to lack of oxygen.

"Stroke" refers to destroyed brain cells. It can result from lack of blood flow--ischemia--or even a hemorrhage.

. . . study on cell therapy (using Embryonic Stem cells) to replace the damaged neurons.

This depends upon where you are in studies/career. As noted below, stem cell research is in its infancy, so to write. If you wish to take part in this sort of research, depending on how serious you are, you should search on the Medline pages for "Stem Cell" and "Stroke." You need to know who is publishing on the subject. Then you can contact the institutions.

If you are a high school level student, the best you can do is make contacts and see if you can volunteer in a laboratory near you that can help you learn some basic biochemisty, molecular genetics, and other skills. This will give you a start for when you enter a university. Incidentally, such work stands out on a university admissions application. Many places work on stroke models, and skills and knowledge you gain will certainly help you in any field.

If you are REALLY set on this, you can then try to attend a university that has faculty working on projects. Laboratories are usually very happy to have young and eager slaves students to help and learn. You may even be able to work on a "summer project."

Why is this not possible/not used in medicine?

Because it does not work yet. First, you have to "convince" the cells to grow into normal brain cells. This is not so simple. Second, you have to have the "new brain cells" take over the function lost. Also not so simple. To begin, the brain is not simply a collection of neurons. Much of its functions depends on the connections the cells make during development and life. How do we "make" cells do this. There is this "hope" that "somehow" the neurons will "know" to do this. Some neurons have processes that cover great distances. How you can make a new cell replace these connections is still largely unknown. Nevertheless, as you recognize, this area holds a lot of promise.

--Doctor X