Year 3

Summary: We have very promising preclinical efficacy data in a rodent model of traumatic brain injury (TBI) using stem cells as a potential therapeutic. We have found that intra-cranial transplants of Shef-6 derived human neural stem cells (hNSCs) appear to induce improvement on two different behavioral domains after long-term (>2 months) survival. Importantly, Shef-6 hNSCs did not form tumors when transplanted at high doses into naïve brain. Shef-6 hNSCs are xenofree, GMP compatible, suitable for use in man (the donor and cells were certified to be free of HIV, Hepatitis A, B, C, HTLV, EBV, CMV, and are mycoplasma free). Furthermore, Shef-6 is on the FDA embryonic stem cell registry, enabling future Federal funding of their clinical testing in man if warranted. Specifically, we have demonstrated long-term efficacy in a moderate to severe controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of TBI using Shef-6 derived hNSCs on both a cognitive task (MWM Reversal Learning) and an emotional task (Elevated Plus Maze for anxiety). This dual improvement across cognitive and emotional domains is unique to the field and supports external validity of the model. These behavioral findings need to be correlated with quantification of the total number of surviving human cells and their terminal cell fate (whether the hNSCs differentiated into neurons, oligodendrocytes, or astrocytes) to confirm efficacy. Stereological quantification is currently ongoing and very labor intensive. If the correlation between surviving cells and cognitive improvements holds up after the quantification is complete, these findings will support a future Preclinical Development Award application to CIRM. Additionally, we are the first group to couple kindling and TBI to model the critical complication of post-TBI seizures. Traditional TBI models yield seizures in less than 20% of rodents, making hNSC studies cost prohibitive. Coupling kindling with TBI ensures that all animals start with a hypersensitive neural circuit so hNSCs can be tested in a more relevant environment; we will be ready to begin this important kindling test coupled with hNSCs in the Spring of 2014. These studies have paved new ground for a field with huge economic costs, no treatments, and no GMP qualified ES based solutions on the horizon.