A boost for translational neuroscience

Abstract

The hematopoietic cytokine EPO not only boosts red blood cell production in the bone marrow (hence its value for treating anemia patients) but also is neuroprotective. In her Perspective, Ehrenreich discusses exciting new research ( Leist et al.) in which an EPO derivative is engineered to have neuroprotective activity but not hematopoietic activity. The new drug, called CEPO, should be of value for treating long-term neurological and psychiatric diseases where stimulation of red blood cell production would be a disadvantage.