Still, only in California.

Researchers from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies are bringing the control of brain cell development from in vitro to in vivo.

Stems cells -- in a petri dish -- are currently being routinely genetically converted into specific types of cells by introducing certain growth factors. Here, an injected retrovirus into the brain of a mouse to deliver a specific gene into adult stems is used to control stem cell development in vivo. It was previously shown that particular gene, called the Ascl1, converted neuronal stems cells into oligodendrocytes, the critical neuron network supportive cell that forms fatty insulation layers around axons to speed up the propagation of electrical signals.

The extremely exciting prospect of this discovery is the potential ability to increase the production of certain types of brain cells in patients where they are deficient. In particular, multiple sclerosis (more) is caused by the immune system killing off oligodendrocytes, so that neuron communication throughout the body is severely degraded. But, if replacement cells can be controlled, then the effects of the disease might be minimized.

"Adult Stem Cells Reprogrammed In Their Natural Environment" :: ScienceDaily :: July 1, 2008 :: [ READ ]

"Directed differentiation of hippocampal stem/progenitor cells in the adult brain" :: Nature Neuroscience :: Published online: 29 June 2008 [ READ ABSTRACT ]

Learn more about the researchers involved in the project:

• Fred H. Gage, Ph.D.,Laboratory for Genetics and the Vi and John Adler Chair for Research on Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases.
• Sebastian Jessberger, M.D., assistant professor at the Institute of Cell Biology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich

Only in California. No, really.

With previous failures of converting embryonic stems cells only into supporting glial cells instead of general neurons, Stuart Lipton's research group at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research in La Jolla, CA recently discovered how to convert mice stem cells into neurons. These cells were then transplanted into a mouse brain and they successfully connected and functioned within the existing neuron network.

The work is funded from a four-year, $75 million grant (pdf) from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Understanding how stems cells transform into any of the hundreds of types of cells in the human body is still a challenge, but Lipton's team is focusing on the protein MEFC2 and how it links to the genes in the stem cell to tell it to turn into a neuron.

Although we're still far far away from doing clinical trials to throw these neurons into human brains and "see what happens", this research is critical just for further fundamental understanding of neuron cell development, growth, and function. How neurons grow and, in particular, how they interconnect with one another is a major factor in the overall resulting function of the brain. So, watching how a neuron is "born" (and understanding it so well that we can guide the process) and then interconnect will provide more insight into the function of a larger neuron network.

The research is published in The Journal of Neuroscience June 25, 2008 Issue [Read the abstract]

"Repairing damage to brain may be nearer" :: SignOnSanDiego.com :: June 25, 2008 :: [ READ ]

"Scientists repair brain using GM embryo cells" :: Telegraph.uk.co :: June 24, 2008 :: [ READ ]

An interesting new technology emerging from the research lab of Dr. Larry Cauller at University of Texas at Dallas might lead to new patient-guided treatments for direct control in pain management.

The work is now being further funded for commercial development through the start-up MicroTransponder, Inc. The device concept is an implanted wireless receiver that can stimulate nerve tissue in order to block pain signals before reaching the brain. This could be a major boon for people with chronic pain issues, which does affect a large percentage of people in the United States.

The group is still fine-tuning the technology and has a way to go for FDA approval, but they are certainly in an interesting position to master a major development for pain relief. How the body and brain responds to this direct internal stimulation might also lead to further understanding of neuron communication and function. It might also result in some interesting--if not undesirable--effects on how the body responds when it doesn't feel pain when, maybe, it should be feeling pain.

"Tiny Technology Packs a Pain-Relieving Wallop" :: UT Dallas News Center :: June 26, 2008 :: [ READ ]

The NIH is certainly serious about making real things happen in neurotechnologies. Setting up large awards for significant steps forward in science and technology has been a tried and true method of encouraging the human race to make a leap from Lindberg to the X Prize. Here is another government-funded opportunity aimed at developing plans for the next-generation technologies for non-invasive imaging of brain function. Mapping detailed  live neuron interactions without the need for drilling through the skull is a holy-grail for reaching a deeper understanding of complete brain function, and it's time to get real serious about making real progress with new technology.

[Read the entire Request for Information]

"NIH requests input on non-invasive brain imaging techniques" BioOptics World :: June 24,  2008 :: [READ]

Last year, the National Institute of Health provided funding for another important collaboration between Brown University, Cyberkinetics, and the Cleveland FES Center. Lead by Arto Nurmikko, a Brown professor of engineering and physics, the academic-industry team is expanding the functionality and portability of BrainGate with a scaled-down, fully-implantable device that records neuronal signals and digitally transmits the information via fiber optic and wireless communication.

The multi-year funding supports a human trial of a prototype being developed, and will continue advancements in implantable devices to bridge communication between the nervous system and computer controlled hardware that can assist with motor skills for paralyzed patients.

"Next-generation neurotechnology possible with NIH grant"
EurekAlert! August 2, 2007 [READ]

"A Microelectrode/Microelectronic Hybrid Device for Brain Implantable Neuroprothesis Applications"
the Overview Research Poster from Nurmikko's Group [VIEW]

Sophisticated brain imaging has never been able to directly image the activity of neurons (namely, fMRI and PET scans). Instead, the realization that active neurons caused increased blood flow to occur in the vicinity allowed researchers to develop the techniques that could more easily monitor the flow activity. As blood flow increased in a region of the brain, then the neurons in the area must also be screaming with increased activity.

But, neurons do not have a direct connection to blood vessels and blood flow in the brain.

The correlation between active neurons and the resulting blood flow changes has just now been directly realized by a team at MIT who used two-photon excitation microscopy developed by the lab of Watt Webb at Cornell University. They found that another very common cell that composes about 1/2 of all brain cells, called an astrocyte which directly affects blood flow and is electrically quite unlike the neuron, instead reacts to non-electrical stimuli from surrounding cells.

This is a rather significant discovery and further research will lead to a deeper understanding of how our complex neural networks function and how they stay alive in our heads.

.....

MIT unlocks mystery behind brain imaging :: PhysOrg.com June 19, 2008
[ read article ]

"Tuned Responses of Astrocytes and Their Influence on Hemodynamic Signals in the Visual Cortex"
James Schummers, Hongbo Yu, and Mriganka Sur
Science 20 June 2008: 1638-1643.
[ read abstract ]

Movies of visually evoked responses of neurons and astrocytes [ view ]

About Mriganka Sur at MIT

Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
[ visit ]

So, the science we are looking at here is a little "iffy" -- to be polite about it -- but, since we don't know everything about the brain quite yet, we really do have to keep our minds open to new ways of approaching ridiculously complicated problems. (To impart a bit of experienced wisdom, if I may: even if a method of thinking is crazy and entirely incorrect, it can certainly still lead to new and original brainstorms into potentially correct paths of inquiry!)

Slate Magazine covered a brain science "year in review" in 2007, and one interesting feature looked at neurotheology. (Yes, this is a little bit of old news now, but we're still catching up!) No matter what you believe, human beings of all faiths and background really do have some sort of "spiritual" experience that is real in the sense that we can personally feel it happening if and when it does happen. This "feeling" certainly doesn't prove that a Caucasian older gentleman with a long white beard sits up in a puffy white cloud watching over our every thought and motion, but it also doesn't mean there isn't something, evening if it's not supernatural. It might be an illusion, but it is still something to understand.

So why not directly measure brain activity of those of us homo sapiens who have excessive spiritual feelings and see if there is anything different from those of us who don't have similar experiences--or, those of us who inadvertently repress. It's all in our heads... the complex neural network in our brain is everything, and maybe it's also god... or maybe it's the most amazing connection to the "real" god that is still beyond our comprehension. Even if the science is a little loosy-goosy at this point, religion is certainly an experience of human beings, which means it is a direct experience of our brains, which means our neurons have a whole lot to do with religion.

"God Is in the Dendrites" :: Slate April 26, 2007
[ Read the Article ]