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SIGMA XI - NJIT CHAPTER |
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Towards a Cure for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease: Adult Stem Cell Plasticity in the Brain
Dr. Ira B. Black
Chairman of the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Research, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Founding Director, Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey
ABSTRACT
Dr. Black and his team have succeeded in converting adult bone marrow stem cells into nerve cells. This work is being applied to the treatment of degenerative and acute neurologic diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal injury. These discoveries suggest that adult cells are far more flexible than formerly assumed. Moreover, these adult stem cells are now being transplanted to embryos to prevent birth defects, and to adults to treat models of degenerative and mid-life diseases. The possibilities of this research will be discussed along with societal issues and ethical problems that are its byproducts.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Ira Black is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology and Founding Director of the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey. He is past President of the Society for Neuroscience of North America. He is a clinical neurologist and neuroscientist studying stem cells, and brain genes encoding growth factors, survival factors and neurotransmitters. His team succeeded in converting adult bone marrow stem cells into nerve cells in culture and in vivo in a variety of neurologic diseases. This work is being applied to the treatment of degenerative and acute neurologic diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and spinal injury. Dr. Black has served on numerous international and national panels and advisory committees, and is presently Chairman of the Publications Committee of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, the Scientific Advisory Council of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation and a member of the Cure Autism Now Scientific Advisory Board. He is the recipient of a McKnight Foundation Award in Neuroscience, a Jacob Javits Award from the NIH, the Viktor Hamburger Prize and the Rita Levi Montalcini Award. He is the author of approximately two hundred articles in neuroscience and of three books Cellular and Molecular Biology of Neuronal Development, Information in the Brain: a Molecular Perspective, and The Changing Brain: Alzheimer’s Disease and Advances in Neuroscience
For information, contact either:
Dr. Jay M. Kappraff at 973-596-3490 or at jay.m.kappraff@njit.edu, or
Ms. Brenda Walker at (973)596-3513 or at brenda.e.walker@njit.edu, or
Dr. Andrew U. Meyer at meyer@njit.edu
Information and directions to NJIT are also available on the Web at http://www.njit.edu/University/Directions.html