#129: Hope for Myelin Repair: How Stem Cells Could Change the Future of Progressive MS with Dr. Luca Peruzzotti Jametti
Description
Neural stem cells may calm brain inflammation and enable myelin repair in progressive MS. Safety looks promising; phase-2 planning is underway.
You can read the interview extract on my blog: https://ms-perspektive.com/129-luca-peruzzotti-jametti
Progressive MS needs therapies that work inside the brain. In this episode, Dr. Luca Peruzzotti Jametti explains why remyelination is so hard in humans, how neural stem cells (NSCs) can calm chronic inflammation through paracrine signals, and when true myelin repair may be feasible. We discuss Phase-1 safety data, the road to Phase-2, who might benefit first (likely progressive MS), and how metabolic approaches to mitochondria/bioenergetics could stack with cell therapies. Dr. Jametti also shares a realistic timeline (5–10 years for larger trials) and a hopeful outlook on disability reversal within 10–15 years. Resources and lab/social links below.
We cover:
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Relapses vs. PIRA and microglia
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Why human remyelination often stalls
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NSCs: paracrine effects vs. cell replacement
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Safety and delivery routes (intraventricular/intrathecal)
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Who/when to treat; aHSCT sequencing
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Mitochondrial metabolism strategies and the bigger pipeline
How and where can interested people follow your research activities?
Follow the team via the Progressive MS (Cambridge) Facebook page, BlueSky, and Cambridge lab pages. You can also follow our work through the Progressive MS Alliance and the RESTORE consortium.
References & Related Episodes/Topics
See you soon and try to make the best out of your life,
Nele
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