On Feb. 4, 2026, Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) announced it  is conducting an early phase clinical trial investigating the safety and effectiveness of implanting specialized stem cells into the brain that have been programmed to replace damaged brain cells and produce dopamine. 

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than one million people in the United States, with approximately 90,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Although available treatments can help manage symptoms, there is currently no cure or therapy proven to slow the progression of the disease.  

Parkinson’s disease is associated with reduced dopamine release in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter essential for movement, memory, mood and other functions. Research has shown that the tremors, stiffness, slow movement and other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are caused by the progressive loss of dopamine-producing brain cells, disrupting the brain’s ability to regulate movement. 

The therapy is a relatively new type of lab-generated stem cell called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Unlike embryonic stem cells, iPCSs are adult cells, such as skin or blood cells, reprogrammed to a “blank slate” state capable of evolving into any type of cell. 

“We believe that these iPSCs can reliably mature into dopamine-producing brain cells, and offer the best chance of jump-starting the brain’s dopamine production,” said Xenos Mason, MD, a neurologist who specializes in Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders with Keck Medicine and co-principal investigator of the study.  

Keck Medicine is one of three organizations in the United States participating in the clinical trial. The multisite study includes a total of 12 participants with moderate to moderate-severe Parkinson’s disease. 

The stem cell product, RNDP-001, is manufactured by Kenai Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering cures for neurological conditions. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has granted the clinical trial, Phase 1 REPLACE™, fast-track designation, meaning that the development and review of the drug will be accelerated.