Neural stem cell transplantation shows promise in treating chronic spinal cord injury

This graphical summary illustrates the study design. Notable innovations include the use of a “floating cannula” to deliver stem cells without suspension of respiration, the use of diffuse tensor imaging (DTI) to enable both qualitative and quantitative assessment of the marrow spinal cord, and the use of electromyography (EMG) to reveal signs of neurological disorders. improvements. Photo credit: Martin et al./Cell Reports Medicine

The study found that all four patients tolerated the treatment well and, although the current study was designed only to assess safety and tolerability, the results suggest that neural stem cell transplantation may have therapeutic potential for treat chronic spinal cord injuries. Following these promising results, the researchers now hope to launch a phase II clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.

The study, published in the Dec. 17 edition of Cell Reports Medicine, was led by Joseph Ciacci, MD, professor in the department of neurological surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine and a UC San neurosurgeon Diego Health, and Joel Martin, MD. , who was a neurological surgery resident physician at UC San Diego at the time the study was completed and is now a neurosurgeon at Orlando Health. The research was supported by the UC San Diego Alpha Stem Cell Clinic at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and the Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center within the Sanford Stem Cell Institute.