Are trials of intravascular infusions of autologous mesenchymal stem cells in patients with multiple system atrophy currently justified, and are they effective?

Scientists and patients are keen to apply new experimental techniques to human diseases, especially currently untreatable progressive neurodegenerative diseases, of which multiple system atrophy (MSA) is an example. We argue that it behooves us to first have robust preclinical experimental evidence before launching into such studies in humans, and to control as much as possible for confounding effects when such trials come to be performed.