SCIENTISTS in Edinburgh have created the world’s first clutch of nerve stem cells in what could prove to be a major breakthrough in the race to treat diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The cells were created in Edinburgh by the Institute for Stem Cell Research and the University of Milan. A team led by Professor Austin Smith developed the cells at the Edinburgh University-based institution. It is a breakthrough because it is the first time that scientists have been able to grow and sustain pure brain cells.
