Researchers at Tel Aviv university's Sagol Centre for Regenerative Biotechnology have engineered 3D human spinal cord tissues and successfully used them to cure paralysis in lab tests.
The scientists managed to restore the ability to walk in 80% of the animals treated in the trials which used pioneering genetic engineering technology. Professor Tal Dvir, who lead the study said: "The model animals underwent a rapid rehabilitation process, at the end of which they could walk quite well. This is the first instance in the world in which implanted engineered human tissues have generated recovery in an animal model for long-term chronic paralysis – which is the most relevant model for paralysis treatments in humans.
"There are millions of people around the world who are paralyzed due to spinal injury, and there is still no effective treatment for their condition. Individuals injured at a very young age are destined to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of their lives, bearing all the social, financial, and health-related costs of paralysis.
"Our goal is to produce personalized spinal cord implants for every paralyzed person, enabling regeneration of the damaged tissue with no risk of rejection."
The team of researchers took belly fat from the animal subjects and reprogrammed them to become stem cells, which could then be used to treat the acute paralysis of the animals.
It's hoped by the scientists that the technology could be used on humans in the next few years. Professor Dvir said he believes that it could potentially help millions of people who have suffered lifechanging spinal injures. He said: "We hope to reach the stage of clinical trials in humans within the next few years, and ultimately get these patients back on their feet. The company's preclinical program has already been discussed with the FDA.
"Since we are proposing an advanced technology in regenerative medicine, and since at present there is no alternative for paralyzed patients, we have good reason to expect relatively rapid approval of our technology."
