NeuroTalk Support Groups - article about ongoing gdnf trial in britain

they infuse gdnf into brain but patients don't wear a pump like older trials.
http://www.milngavieherald.co.uk/new...on-s-1-3508262

Now he is one of 30 patients in this trial which is being conducted by neurosurgeon Professor Steven Gill, based at Bristol’s Frenchay Hospital.

He underwent a risky operation last year which saw holes being drilled into his head so tubes could be placed in his brain.

The research aims to find out the effect of delivering the protein Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor directly into the brain through tubes.

Fifteen patients will receive a placebo while the others will be given the drug - to discover whether the specially designed delivery port could help improve symptoms such as stiffness, slowness of movement and tremors.

Bryn had three detailed brain scans to take precise measurements to enable four tubes to be inserted into his brain last December in a five and a half hour operation.

He said: “I knew there was a risk involved but to be honest I’d bite your hand off for the chance of another five years.”

The infusion of drugs was delivered for the first time to Bryn’s brain last Friday, August 8, at Frenchay Hospital.

Bryn doesn’t know whether he will be given the real thing or a placebo.

He said: “Either way, in eighteen months time we will know if this trial has worked, and whether or not GDNF is a disease modifying treatment for Parkinson’s disease.