Nose cells to help those with spinal injury?RSS Feed

A new clinical trial which will inject cells from the nose into spinal injury patients is giving hope to those with debilitating conditions.

Six individuals with spinal injury in New Zealand will have a transplant of tissue from their nose to the site of the spinal injury while another six will undergo surgery so the differences in results can be seen.

Jim Faed, who heads the the Spinal Cord Society's lab at Otago University, said that olfactory tissue in the nose is unique as its nerve cells are replaced there throughout life.

"There is growing medical opinion that these cells can help overcome the blocks that prevent nerve cells regenerating after damage to the spinal cord," he added.

However, not everyone is as positive about the upcoming trial, with some saying the $1 million invested in the study would be better spent on caring for people with spinal injury.

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Posted by Paul Breen

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