Clinical trials and advanced MRI techniques with stem cell therapy for ischemic stroke: present and future...

Ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide. Currently, there are no effective therapeutic strategies to promote post-stroke nerve repair and regeneration in clinical practice. Stem cells, characterized by self-renewal and differentiation capabilities, offer insights into the treatment of stroke. Over the past few decades, stem cell therapy has yielded promising results in preclinical and clinical studies for the treatment of ischemic stroke. However, various challenges to the clinical application of stem cell therapy remain. Herein, we review clinical trials of stem cell therapy for different stages of ischemic stroke. Based on this summary, we discussed the issues that need to be considered in future clinical trials, including determining the optimal cell types and doses, ideal transplantation routes and timing, and appropriate assessment methods. Additionally, as neuroimaging plays an increasingly critical role in humans, we elaborate on the application of advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques in clinical trials. In terms of the future outlook, we discuss technological advances, introducing machine learning in the field of stroke, and using this approach for integrating multi-omics data. These results may provide information for further development of clinical trials in this field and promote the future application of stem cell-based therapy.