One step closer to a potential cure for paralysis

A project part-funded by Spinal Research reaches a major milestone as first patient receives cell transplantation of their own cells – bringing us one step closer to potentially finding a repair for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury.

The study, being undertaken by the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, was granted approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year to evaluate the safety and feasibility of transplanting the patient’s own Schwann cells.

A previous study conducted by the team had already established conclusively that autologous (transplantation where the donor and recipient is the same person) transplanted Schwann cells survive for six months after implantation into a chronic lesion site, i.e. where the damage is located. This is important because Schwann cells form myelin around the axons (nerve fibres) of the damaged spinal cord tract – the corticospinal tract. Myelin not only protects the axon, it also helps to speed up the transfer of information (nerve signals along the spinal cord), which are disrupted or cut off in spinal cord injury. The presence of myelinated axons is vital in the repair of the damaged spinal cord.

Dr Mark Bacon, Director of Research at Spinal Research, commented:

“The long-term ambition to bring this cell-based strategy to the clinic has now been realised by the team at Miami. The dedication to the task and the unwavering methodical approach to bring us to this exciting stage is to be applauded. Showing safety and feasibility is the short-term goal but with the report that the first patient has now received a transplant of their own Schwann cells, a major milestone has been reached.”

The patient taking part in the study had a neurologically complete thoracic spinal injury and received the transplantation of autologous Schwann cells approximately four weeks post-injury. There have been no adverse events and the team is moving forward with the trial.