Irvine, California — Scientists from UC Irvine and the Keck School of Medicine of USC have begun a groundbreaking research project to treat brain damage. Funded by a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the study will explore how stem cell research combined with intelligent biocomputing can repair damaged brain regions.
The four-year research effort seeks to restore motor function in individuals who have suffered brain damage from strokes or other neurological disorders. Led by Dr. An Do, associate professor of neurology at UC Irvine, the team will develop 3D neural networks using stem cells that can interact with the brain to promote healing.
“We believe that combining systems engineering and regenerative medicine might, with further research, help patients with neurological damage,” Dr. Do said.
The project will involve printing 3D networks of neural stem cells and creating artificial blood vessels to sustain their growth. Researchers hope this approach will help these stem cells form functional networks in the brain, potentially restoring lost abilities.
Though still in its early stages, the team’s work represents a significant step forward in brain injury treatment and may have wide-ranging implications for neurological recovery in the future.
