Using engineered adult stem cells from bone marrow to deliver a growth factor directly to atrophied muscles, scientists at UW-Madison have successfully slowed the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease — in rats.
The finding was published Tuesday in the journal Molecular Therapy.
Although it’s at a relatively early stage, the research offers hope that the process might someday provide a new therapy for people who suffer from the debilitating and fatal disease, which is caused by the progressive loss of motor neurons and their connections to muscles.