A fourth set of human experiments have begun to transfernormal precursors of muscle into patients with Duchennemuscular dystrophy to see whether the transplant will formthe protein missing in the genetic disease.
A neurologist at Ohio State University has injected his firstpatient with myoblast cells taken from the boy's healthybrother. The study is being funded by $84,000 awarded by theMuscular Dystrophy Association and will test a total of 12 boysages 5 to 9.
Appearance of dystrophin, the protein missing in the disease,and any indication of tissue rejection will be monitored for atleast a year.
The myoblast transfer strategy is also being tested at threeother medical centers, with a fifth trial scheduled for theBoston area's New England Medical Center
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