Tooth stem cells give brain surgery hopes

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Tooth stem cells give brain surgery hopes
September 16, 2008
RDH

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News Online (September 16, 2008)
University of Adelaide researchers say they are close to repairing stroke-damaged brains using stem cells taken from teeth.

The research is being done at the university's Centre for Stem Cell Research, which has been officially launched at a function in Adelaide.

Project coordinator Dr Simon Koblar says the research involves dental pulp stem cells.

"So we've actually taken them from young people that have impacted molars in their mouth and we remove the tooth and you can break it open and inside the tooth are some stem cells, so you can grow them in a test tube," he explained.

The procedure has been tested on rats and, if all goes to plan, there may be human trials in the next five years.

The stem cell centre will be used by almost 100 scientists and 80 research students.

Adelaide University hopes it can help put South Australian researchers at the forefront of stem cell research in Australia.