A new stem cell has been discovered in the adult brain by a team of researchers that includes a scientist recently recruited by Van Andel Institute.

Scientists hope the finding will help them find ways to repair injuries and heal diseases of the brain, said Dr. Patrik Brundin, who leads Parkinsons research at the VAI. Ultimately, they hope it will lead to new treatments for strokes and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons.

In the study published this week, the researchers analyzed brain tissue from biopsies and found, for the first time, stem cells around small blood vessels in the brain. Although its function is unclear, scientists are excited about its potential.

A similar cell type has been identified in several other organs where it can promote regeneration of muscle, bone, cartilage and adipose tissue, Brundin said.

In October, Brundin became the first person to hold the Jay Van Andel Endowed Chair in Parkinson's Research at VAI. He also is head of the Neuronal Survival Unit at Lund University and senior author of the study.

In other organs, stem cells have been shown to help heal and repair injuries. With the brain stem cells, researchers say the next step is to try to control and enhance the cells self-healing properties.

Our findings show that the cell capacity is much larger than we originally thought, and that these cells are very versatile, said Gesine Paul-Visse, a Lund University researcher and the primary author of the study. Most interesting is their ability to form neuronal cells, but they can also be developed for other cell types. The results contribute to better understanding of how brain cell plasticity works and opens up new opportunities to exploit these very features.

The study was published in the journal PLoS ONE.

Email Sue Thoms at sthoms1@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/suethoms

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Van Andel Institute researcher helps discover new stem cell in adult brain