the first article is about cells genetically engineered not to produce dopamine, not dead or damaged cells not producing dopamine. completely different situation imho

on the other hand, CEREGENE thinks neurturin, can rescue brain cells, further results in 2013.
i saw a video where the CEREGENE research was being discussed, one of the panelists was a neuro who was involved in the first phase2 study and he said he saw improvement in some patients.
so
here's a company that is developing a disease modifying treatment with results due in early 2013, it gets me a little excited. not tremendously excited because every phase2 trial involving brain implants never made it to phase3, speculation on the reasons why are phase1 participants are prone to larger placebo affects - risk takers who know they are getting the treatment and there is possible bias by the primary researchers, whereas in phase2, you don't know if you are getting the treatment and the trial is usually done at multiple centers in order to recruit enough patients which would reduce any "bias", and i assume whomever is evaluating the patients doesn't know whom got the treatment and whom got the placebo.

http://www.ceregene.com/

so all researchers aren't assuming all dopamine producing neurons are dead.

so the way i see it, it isn't tunnel vision by researchers or just the lack of money that is holding up a "cure" or big bad drug companies - they are spending billions on a cure for alzheimers, cancer, and other diseases - but the lack of volunteers for studies. now maybe if volunteers were paid more there would be more volunteers so maybe money is a factor.