$10.2 Million Donated for Cerebral Palsy Stem Cell Research

The Robertson Foundation donated $10.2 million to Duke University in North Carolina; some of the money will go towards a study surrounding the use of umbilical cord stem cells to treat children with cerebral palsy. Dr. Joanna Kurtzberg is heading the study at Duke University and will be launching the Translational Cell Therapy Center with the grant money. Research is being conducted to determine ways in which stem cell therapy can be used in the treatment of children and adults with cerebral palsy, cancer, stroke and other brain injuries that occurred at birth.

Stem Cell Use, Effective Cerebral Palsy Treatment

Maia Friedlander, a six-year-old girl, has taken part in the study. Her father reportedly said he noticed vast improvement from Maia after being treated with umbilical cord blood that was stored in her body. Chief Executive of the Duke University Health System, Dr. Victor Dzau, says the grant will be very useful and will help researchers at the university in their stem cell research.

About the Robertson Foundation

The Robertson Foundation is a private foundation that makes massive transformative grants throughout the U.S. in four main areas: medical research, education, environment and religion and spirituality. Duke Medicine News and Communications announced the grant March 18, 2010.