At the final event in Portland several of the main speakers spoke passionately about how claims made in the name of stem cell research are putting the field behind by years.

Another milestone reached (stem cell transplantation)
 

The Melbourne, Australia project rolls on. The 4th patient (i.e. the last one in the first cohort) has received his/her 30 million stem cells.

The next patient (i.e. the first one in the second cohort of 4 patients) is scheduled to receive 50 million stem cells.

Each of the 4 patients in the third cohort are scheduled to receive 70 million stem cells.

International Stem Cell Corporation Completes First Cohort In Parkinson's Disease Clinical Trial Other OTC:ISCO

Another project update
 

The Melbourne, Australia project has rolled on some more:
- All 4 patients in the first cohort have received their 30 million stem cells.
- The first 2 patients in the second cohort have received their 50 million stem cells.
- Each of the 4 patients in the third cohort are scheduled to receive 70 million stem cells.

#AAN218 - Neural Stem Cells Show Promise as Parkinson’s Therapy

This recent paper from International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) contains a lot of background information on the technology used in the Melbourne project.

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/scd.2018.0001

ISCO patent
 

ISCO has recently been granted a patent for their "invention":

International Stem Cell Corporation Granted Key US Patent Protecting Lead Therapeutic Program Other OTC:ISCO

(hat tip to iqbaliqbal at HU for this link)

US Patent for Use of neural cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases Patent (Patent # 1,39,794 issued August 7, 218) - Justia Patents Search

Project Update - June 11, 2018
 

The Melbourne, Australia project keeps rolling on:
- All 4 patients in the first cohort have received their 30 million stem cells.
- All 4 patients in the second cohort have received their 50 million stem cells.
- The first patient in the third cohort has received his/her 70 million stem cells.

"The study will conclude following the dosing of the last three patients of the third cohort, which ISCO plans to complete in 2018."

"... we continue to see encouraging signs of improvement that are dose-dependent, with patients with higher dosage performing better on average than patients with lower dosage ..."

Press Releases: International Stem Cell Corporation Doses First Patient of the Third Cohort in Parkinson's Disease Clinical Trial

More progress in Melbourne
 

The Melbourne, Australia project has reported further progress:

- All 4 patients in the first cohort have received their 30 million stem cells.
- All 4 patients in the second cohort have received their 50 million stem cells.
- The second patient in the third cohort has now received his/her 70 million stem cells.

Press Releases: International Stem Cell Corporation Doses Tenth Patient in Parkinson's Disease Clinical Trial

Phase 1 complete - finally!
 

"The fourth subject of the third cohort, who was the twelfth and final subject of the phase 1 clinical study, was successfully transplanted with the highest dose of ISC-hpNSC® stem cells."

"Interim results of this study will be presented at the upcoming 2019 American Academy of Neurology 71st Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA on May 5th, 2019."

International Stem Cell Corporation Completes Enrollment and Dosing in its Parkinson's Disease Clinical Trial Other OTC:ISCO

Formal announcement of completion of the Phase 1 trial
 

This announcement has already been covered in another thread by ashleyk.
International Stem Cell Corporation

I'm covering it here as well to join it up with the many previous posts on this topic.

Some good news is that the results of the Phase 1 trial show safety, and possible efficacy.

Some bad news is that no plans were mentioned for a Phase 2 trial, only that "Patients will continue to be evaluated every six months for another five years in the study’s extension phase."

PNT article:
Parkinson's Stem Cell Therapy Shows Safety, Early Efficacy in Small Trial

Press release:
International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Successful Completion of Its Phase 1 Clinical Trial in Parkinson's Disease

"The quality of life of the patients as measured by the Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Score-39 (PDQ-39) Summary Index, improved 43% for the second cohort at twelve months post-transplantation. This improved to a 45% better score in cohort 2 at 48 months."

I think there is a typo there, in that "48 months" should probably be "24 months". It really can't be 48 months, since cohort 2 has only been observed for 36 months.

I must admit when I saw this thread title, as a Brit, I read Victorian as, during the reign of Queen Victoria!

Great to see the progress being made as reported in time over a long thread. Thanks for the updates jeffreyn