Grafted stem cell-derived neurons used as a potential treatment for Parkinson disease (PD) cells do not integrate well into host brain, as evidenced by their inability to migrate and send axons into surrounding brain tissue. The overall goal of my project is to improve the effectiveness of ES-derived dopamine (DA) neuron transplants by using engineered polysialic acid (PSA) expression to enhance cell and axon migration. This is a project that is in collaboration with the Rutishauser Lab.
