Novel Approaches in Pursuit of a Stem Cell Therapy for Perinatal Stroke

Perinatal stroke is a devastating condition that can lead to a lifetime burden of neurological deficits, such as cerebral palsy. This thesis investigated novel models of perinatal stroke to examine the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). A novel technology MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRIgFUS) was developed as a method to deliver therapies non-invasively into the neonatal brain. We showed that MSCs are neuroprotective, can reduce brain injury and that MRIgFUS has potential to deliver therapies non-invasively to the brain, but further research is needed. Together, the results present promising approaches for future therapies for perinatal stroke.