New insights and technologies in brain grafting

Significant progress has been made in the field of brain grafting over the last 15 years. Neurosurgeons have been involved directly in the preclinical and clinical efforts in this fascinating and promising field, along with their neuroscience colleagues. Through a better understanding of the complex mechanisms involved in response to transplants in the brain, new technologies and experimental strategies are being developed to improve the safety and efficacy of these procedures. The time is right for carrying out appropriate preclinical studies in rodents and nonhuman primates to answer one of the most basic questions: Is a tissue graft necessary for behavior improvement in degenerative diseases such as PD, HD, or AD? With available tools and technology and an open mind to new ideas, brain grafting has a tremendous potential in the neurosurgeon's armamentarium, both today and in the future.