Stem cells successfully used to treat spinal cord injuryRSS Feed

23 August 2010

A group of scientists is confident that they have developed a reliable method for repairing damaged spinal cords using neural stem cells.

Human neural stem cells were transplanted into mice 30 days after a paralysing spinal cord injury was sustained, with test subjects demonstrating "significant and persistent recovery" compared to control groups.

The tests were carried out by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, and are significant in part because they open up the possibility of spinal cord treatments being administered successfully after a longer period of time has passed.

Previous stem cell research has focused on treatment in the early phases of spinal cord injury recovery.

Lead research author Aileen Anderson explained: "This study builds on the extensive work we previously published in the acute phase of injury and offers additional hope to those who are paralysed or have impaired motor function."

Meanwhile, researchers from Oxford University are hopeful that their investigations yield positive results concerning the potential use of skin cells to treat spinal cord injuries.

Scientists believe that these cells have "enormous potential" for fighting against spinal cord damage.

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Posted by Paul Breen ADNFCR-2547-ID-800035031-ADNFCR