Generation of adult-specific stem cells for research into stroke
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Generation of adult-specific stem cells for research into stroke
IRAS ID
233284
Contact name
Hugh/S Markus
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
CUHNFT and University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. The two main types of stroke are ischaemic and haemorrhagic, accounting for 85% and 15%, respectively. In addition to the conventional risk factor, like high blood pressure and diabetes, genetic factors are known be important for stroke. Studies in the genetic of stroke have identified new genetic variants, which are associated with increased risk of common stroke. Despite the severity of stroke, the preventing treatments currently available are limited to the use of anticoagulant (i.e. warfarin), antiplatelets (i.e. aspirin) and antihypertensives (i.e. beta-blockers). This is largely caused by the lack of good disease models for stroke, in which to test potential new therapies.
We are particularly interested in studying how these genetic mutations affect the risk of stroke, by using a patient-derived stem cells model. Patients suffering from stroke or from a family with high risk of having stroke and identified for having a functional genetic risk factor associated with a specific type of stroke, recruited by the Stroke Research Group at the University of Cambridge, will be invited to take part to this study. The participants will be asked for a tiny sample of skin, known as skin biopsy. The patient donated skin cells will be used to generate adult stem cells, also called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), in the laboratory by a process called genetic reprogramming. iPSC can be used to form the vascular and brain cells affected by stroke, therefore they are an ideal model for stroke research. Furthermore, because iPSC are originated from patient, they have the same genetic mutation and can be used as representative model of the disease process. Therefore, these patient-derived iPSC model can be used to study the underlying mechanisms of the disease and to test new potential treatments for stroke.REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EE/0094
Date of REC Opinion
24 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion