Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Ischemic Stroke.

Inclusion Criteria: * Symptoms and signs of clinically definite acute stroke * Time of stroke onset is known and treatment can be started within 7 days of onset * CT or MRI brain scanning has reliably excluded both intracranial haemorrhage and structural brain lesions which can mimic stroke (e.g. cerebral tumour) * The stroke is severe and conforming to the TACS phenotype (weakness, homonymous hemianopia and a focal cognitive deficit (e.g. aphasia) or reduction in consciousness) or PACS phenotype (two out of the three TACS criteria) * An age range of 30-80 years old * Stroke confined to MCA territory on CT or MRI brain imaging * NIHSS score \>/= 8 Exclusion Criteria: * Known defect of clotting or platelet function (but patients on anti-platelet agents can enrol) * Haematological causes of stroke * Severe co-morbidity * Hepatic or renal dysfunction * The patient is female and of childbearing potential (unless it is certain that pregnancy is not possible) or breast feeding * Hypo- or hyperglycaemia sufficient to account for the neurological symptoms; the patient should be excluded if their blood glucose is \< 3.0 or \> 20.0mmol/L * Patient is likely to be unavailable for follow-up e.g. no fixed home address * Patients with evidence of life threatening infection (e.g. HIV) or life threatening illness (e.g. advanced cancer) * Patient was already dependent in activities of daily living before the present acute stroke * Patients who have been included in any other clinical trial within the previous month