Archive for the ‘Spinal Cord Injury’ Category

Public release date: 13-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Debra Kain ddkain@ucsd.edu 619-543-6163 University of California - San Diego

In a study at the University of California, San Diego and VA San Diego Healthcare, researchers were able to regenerate "an astonishing degree" of axonal growth at the site of severe spinal cord injury in rats. Their research revealed that early stage neurons have the ability to survive and extend axons to form new, functional neuronal relays across an injury site in the adult central nervous system (CNS).

The study also proved that at least some types of adult CNS axons can overcome a normally inhibitory growth environment to grow over long distances. Importantly, stem cells across species exhibit these properties. The work will be published in the journal Cell on September 14.

The scientists embedded neural stem cells in a matrix of fibrin (a protein key to blood clotting that is already used in human neuron procedures), mixed with growth factors to form a gel. The gel was then applied to the injury site in rats with completely severed spinal cords.

"Using this method, after six weeks, the number of axons emerging from the injury site exceeded by 200-fold what had ever been seen before," said Mark Tuszynski, MD, PhD, professor in the UC San Diego Department of Neurosciences and director of the UCSD Center for Neural Repair, who headed the study. "The axons also grew 10 times the length of axons in any previous study and, importantly, the regeneration of these axons resulted in significant functional improvement."

In addition, adult cells above the injury site regenerated into the neural stem cells, establishing a new relay circuit that could be measured electrically. "By stimulating the spinal cord four segments above the injury and recording this electrical stimulation three segments below, we detected new relays across the transaction site," said Tuszynski.

To confirm that the mechanism underlying recovery was due to formation of new relays, when rats recovered, their spinal cords were re-transected above the implant. The rats lost motor function confirming formation of new relays across the injury.

The grafting procedure resulted in significant functional improvement: On a 21-point walking scale, without treatment, the rats score was only 1.5; following the stem cell therapy, it rose to 7 a score reflecting the animals' ability to move all joints of affected legs.

Results were then replicated using two human stem cell lines, one already in human trials for ALS. "We obtained the exact results using human cells as we had in the rat cells," said Tuszynski.

Read more from the original source:
Neural stem cells regenerate axons in severe spinal cord injury

The spinal cord rehabilitation group Push to Walk, based in this borough, has seen its campaign to raise awareness augmented with September's recognition of Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month in the state.

Governor Christie signed a proclamation marking the campaign on Aug. 17.

Push to Walk President Cynthia Templeton had been advocating that the state recognize spinal cord injury awareness for 18 months, and she was pleased to see it come to a reality.

In a letter-writing campaign, Templeton was able to gain support from organizations including the Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, Dr. Wise Young, and Disability Rights New Jersey.

"It's just exciting to be able to spread awareness and to tell people that it is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month," said Stephanie Lajam, the communication and special event coordinator for Push to Walk.

Throughout the month, Push to Walk will be sending out information to various organizations to help bring awareness to this medical condition.

At the end of September the group will host its fifth annual golf outing, where it is pleased to have Dr. Young as its honorary chairman this year.

Dr. Young is the founding director of the W.M. Keck Center of Collaborative Neuroscience.

Lajam explained that Dr. Young will be introducing clinical trials for people with spinal cord injuries and paralysis in the United States.

"We were lucky enough to work with him toward this, and it's the best tie-in for us at this time with having September proclaimed Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month in the State of New Jersey," she said.

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Riverdale nonprofit applauds September's recognition of Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month in the state.

A spinal cord injury that blocks all sensation below the middle of his back didn't stop Joey Abicca from standing up and taking a short walk in a Carlsbad gym Friday afternoon.

The Encinitas teen had help from a high-tech device that until recently sounded like pure science fiction ---- a black bionic exoskeleton made by Richmond-based Ekso Bionics.

At a demonstration hosted by Carlsbad nonprofit Project Walk, Abicca levered himself from his wheelchair into the $140,000 device and ---- after helpers strapped him in ---- the 17-year-old calmly pushed himself up using an extra-wide walker.

Using his upper body to tilt his hips forward, Abicca caused the skeleton to move his feet forward and began walking across the floor.

"It's awesome," he said.

The device was on loan to Project Walk, which is trying to raise money to buy one that it can use in therapy for patients such as Abicca.

An exoskeleton uses a rigid frame that roughly parallels the user's real skeleton but is strapped on from the outside. There are electric motors at each joint. Sensors detect motion, providing a steady stream of input to an on-board computer. The computer can move the motors, continually adjusting to maintain balance and achieve forward motion.

Eric Harness, co-founder of Project Walk, said the high-tech device could aid in the painstaking process of "over ground" therapy, where a subject leans on a walker and puts weight on his legs. Therapists move each leg, one after the other, to achieve motion.

Bionics puts the patient in charge ---- he gets to make his body move where he wants it to go, and that, Abicca said, is truly going somewhere.

"It's independence, that's what it is," he said.

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CARLSBAD: Teen takes a walk, with help of exoskeleton

Public release date: 5-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Carolann Murphy, PA CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org 973-324-8382 Kessler Foundation

West Orange, NJ. September 5, 2012. Kessler Foundation has released preliminary research findings from its clinical study of the wearable robotic exoskeletal device, Ekso (Ekso Bionics). Gail Forrest, PhD, assistant director of Human Performance and Engineering Research, presented the Ekso research data on September 3, at the meeting of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals at the Rio Suites in Las Vegas. Dr. Forrest directs mobility research at the Foundation, including activity-based locomotor therapy, functional electrical stimulation, and treadmill training with the LokomatPro v6, as well as Ekso. Her research focuses on new ways to improve function and restore mobility for people with disabilities and reduce their long-term risks for complications.

Ekso, has been undergoing clinical investigation in patients with spinal cord injury at Kessler since October 2011, when the research team received the second commercial unit distributed by Ekso Bionics. "Our initial research results are promising for the potential application of Ekso-assisted walking in rehabilitation, in exercise/wellness programs, in the community and for home use," said Dr. Forrest.

Dr. Forrest not only studies the mechanics of how people with paralysis stand and walk in Ekso, she looks at the impact of these activities on their muscles, hearts and lungs. Long-term studies are needed to evaluate the effects on common secondary complications such as cardiovascular disease, loss of bone and muscle, pressure ulcers, depression, chronic pain, and loss of bladder/bowel control.

Dr. Forrest reported on data collected in 13 patients (12 with paraplegia and 1 with tetraplegia) with spinal cord injury (complete and incomplete injuries) enrolled in the Ekso study. Thus far, walking and standing with Ekso is feasible for people with a range of spinal cord disorders that cause paraplegia. Individuals with higher levels of spinal cord injury may also benefit, but require more time to learn Ekso-assisted walking.

Gait and balance data indicate positive results/progress, ie, for individuals engaging in Ekso-assisted training sessions, walking speed and distance, fluidity, gait and balance improve with training on the exoskeleton. Metabolic and cardiovascular responses were evidenced by increases in oxygen consumption, ventilation and heart rate. These increases occurred with changes from resting to standing position and increased further with changes from standing to walking. Dr. Forrest confirmed this effect by comparing the responses of a patient skilled at Ekso-assisted walking (30 sessions of training) with those of a novice walker. Oxygen consumption returned to baseline much faster in the skilled walker, indicating a training effect. "These are only preliminary data," emphasized Dr. Forrest. "The mechanisms underlying these responses need further investigation. These findings are indicative of potential benefits for the heart, lungs, and the circulation, an important finding in this high-risk population."

Another interesting finding was increased muscle firing in the lower leg muscles during Ekso-assisted walking. More detailed research is needed to evaluate the potential health benefits of this muscle activity, according to Dr. Forrest.

Advances in engineering are enabling advances in Ekso research. Auto-control for greater flexibility and maximal independence is a new feature in the upgraded device, Ekso 1.1, being tested at Kessler Foundation. Data collection is now automated, which will aid the expansion of Ekso's capabilities in the future.

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Kessler Foundation releases preliminary research findings for Ekso in spinal cord injury

Interim results from three patients in an early-stage trial of StemCells Inc's experimental cell treatment for chronic spinal cord injury show that two of them experienced gains in "sensory function," the company said.

StemCells is using neural stem cells, technically adult stem cells, taken from the partly developed brains of fetuses and tested for qualities showing they are destined to form particular types of nerve cells.

The company said that six months after being infused with the cells all three patients have tolerated the transplantation well and there are no safety concerns.

"We clearly need to collect more data to establish efficacy, but we are encouraged," Stephen Huhn, vice president at StemCells, said in a statement. He also said the company is pushing ahead with plans to dose patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries.

The initial phase of the trial involved patients with complete injuries and no neurological function below the level of the spinal injury.

Changes in sensitivity to touch, heat and electrical stimuli were observed in areas below the level of injury in two of the patients, while no changes were seen in the third patient, the company said.

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2 of 3 spinal injury patients see gains in stem cell trial

Recovery of walking and balance can occur even years after injury in people with incomplete spinal cord injury who participate in locomotor training

Additional study shows patients reduced expenses up to 25% after locomotor training intervention

SHORT HILLS, N.J., Sept. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the first time, new research demonstrates that innovative rehabilitative treatments for individuals with spinal cord injuries can lead to significant functional improvements in patients and a higher quality of life. These treatments are provided through the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network (NRN), a national network of activity-based rehabilitation centers for spinal cord injury. The findings suggest that a shift in both protocol and policy is needed to standardize rehabilitation across multiple centers. The studies were funded by the Reeve Foundation the nation's leading nonprofit dedicated to curing spinal cord injury and improving quality of life for people living with paralysis

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100511/REEVELOGO )

The NRN is a national network of rehabilitative centers established by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to translate scientific advances into activity-based rehabilitation treatment for individuals with neurological disorders, and is funded by a cooperative agreement between the Foundation and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Eleven peer-reviewed studies published in the September 2012 issue of Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation conclude that establishing a network of rehab centers for spinal cord injuries that standardizes treatment can lead to significant functional improvements for chronically injured patients. Using data from a total of 296 patients living with spinal cord injury (SCI) at seven centers across the country, researchers found that the NRN succeeds because of overarching conditions, including:

In addition, one NRN study published in the September issue of Journal of Neurological Physical Therapy found that expenses associated with equipment, home renovations, and transportation decreased by up to 25 percent for both children and adult patients with motor incomplete spinal cord injury due to the function gained following intensive locomotor training intervention.

Locomotor training is an intensive, activity-based intervention therapy that seeks to re-train the nervous system by simulating stepping and walking for those with spinal cord injuries. More than one million people in the U.S. are living with paralysis due to a spinal cord injury according to the Reeve Foundation.

Link:
New Research: Eleven Studies Reveal Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury Experience Improved Health, Function through ...

For the first time, people with broken spines have recovered feeling in previously paralysed areas after receiving injections of neural stem cells.

Three people with paralysis received injections of 20 million neural stem cells directly into the injured region of their spinal cord. The cells, acquired from donated fetal brain tissue, were injected between four and eight months after the injuries happened. The patients also received a temporary course of immunosuppressive drugs to limit rejection of the cells.

None of the three felt any sensation below their nipples before the treatment. Six months after therapy, two of them had sensations of touch and heat between their chest and belly button. The third patient has not seen any change.

"The fact we've seen responses to light touch, heat and electrical impulses so far down in two of the patients is very unexpected," says Stephen Huhn of StemCells, the company in Newark, California, developing and testing the treatment. "They're really close to normal in those areas now in their sensitivity," he adds.

"We are very intrigued to see that patients have gained considerable sensory function," says Armin Curt of Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, where the patients were treated, and principal investigator in the trial.

The data are preliminary, but "these sensory changes suggest that the cells may be positively impacting recovery", says Curt, who presented the results today in London at the annual meeting of the International Spinal Cord Society.

The patients are the first three of 12 who will eventually receive the therapy. The remaining recipients will have less extensive paralysis.

"The sensory gains, first detected at three months post-transplant, have now persisted and evolved at six months after transplantation," says Huhn. "We clearly need to collect much more data to demonstrate efficacy, but our results so far provide a strong rationale to persevere with the clinical development of our stem cells for spinal injury," he says.

"We need to keep monitoring these patients to see if feeling continues to affect lower segments of their bodies," says Huhn. "These are results after only six months, and we will follow these patients for many years."

Huhn says that the company has "compelling data" from animal studies that the donated cells can repair nerves within broken spines (Neurological Research, DOI: 10.1179/016164106X115116).

Read more:
Stem cells bring back feeling for paralysed patients

With the Paralympics in full swing in London this week, it's interesting to see the extraordinary advances being made in prosthetic limb technology.

Today, An Do at the Long Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center in California and a few pals say they've built and tested a prosthetic lower limb that can be controlled in real time by EEG (electroencephalogram) signals fed into a computer.

Do and co have been tackling this problem for some time. In previous work, they developed a way of using EEG signals to control the walking motion of an avatar in a virtual environment.

The system works well both for able-bodied subjects and those with spinal cord injury who are unable to walk.

Now they've taken the obvious next step and connected their mind-computer interface to a robotic leg.

Do and co tested the system using an able-bodied subject who mastered the system in just 10 minutes (although he previously had 5 hours of practice with the virtual avatar system).

An important measure of success is the number of false positive signals the system generates, since unintended steps are potentially life threatening for the user. (Imagine waiting for a train or to cross a road.)

Do and co say the system had 100 per cent response rate with no unintended steps. "By the end of the experiment, the subject had no false alarms," they say.

That's a significant development. The team points out that individuals with paraplegia due to spinal cord injury are unable to walk and most are wheelchair bound. This inactivity causes untold health problems, such as metabolic disfunction, heart disease and osteoporosis.

Clearly, brain-controlled prostheses could make a significant difference.

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First Mind-Controlled Robotic Leg Put Through Its Paces

(RTTNews.com) - StemCells Inc. (STEM) announced that interim six-month data from the first patient cohort in the company's Phase I/II clinical trial of its proprietary HuCNS-SC product candidate (purified human neural stem cells) for chronic spinal cord injury continues to demonstrate a favorable safety profile, and shows considerable gains in sensory function in two of the three patients compared to pre-transplant baselines. The third patient remains stable.

The trial represents the first time that neural stem cells have been transplanted as a potential therapeutic agent for spinal cord injury.

The company stated that Patients in the study's first cohort all suffered a complete injury to the thoracic (chest-level) spinal cord. In a complete injury, there is no neurological function below the level of injury. All three patients were transplanted four to nine months after injury with a dose of 20 million cells at the site of injury. The surgery, immunosuppression and the cell transplants have been well tolerated by all the patients.

There were no abnormal clinical, electrophysiological or radiological responses to the cells, and all the patients were neurologically stable through the first six months following transplantation. Changes in sensitivity to touch, heat and electrical stimuli were observed in well-defined and consistent areas below the level of injury in two of the patients, while no changes were observed in the third patient, the company said.

Importantly, tests of perception of different sensory stimuli as well as measures of electrical impulse transmission across the site of injury correlate with the clinical examination, providing independent and objective confirmation of the changes in sensory function.

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

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StemCells Announces Positive Interim Data From Spinal Cord Injury Trial

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/h4vsbr/spinal_cord_injury) has announced the addition of Global Markets Direct's new report "Spinal Cord Injury - Pipeline Review, H2 2012" to their offering.

Global Markets Direct's, 'Spinal Cord Injury - Pipeline Review, H2 2012', provides an overview of the Spinal Cord Injury therapeutic pipeline. This report provides information on the therapeutic development for Spinal Cord Injury, complete with latest updates, and special features on late-stage and discontinued projects. It also reviews key players involved in the therapeutic development for Spinal Cord Injury. 'Spinal Cord Injury - Pipeline Review, H2 2012' is built using data and information sourced from Global Markets Direct's proprietary databases, Company/University websites, SEC filings, investor presentations and featured press releases from company/university sites and industry-specific third party sources, put together by Global Markets Direct's team.

Scope

- A snapshot of the global therapeutic scenario for Spinal Cord Injury.

- A review of the Spinal Cord Injury products under development by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources.

- Coverage of products based on various stages of development ranging from discovery till registration stages.

- A feature on pipeline projects on the basis of monotherapy and combined therapeutics.

- Coverage of the Spinal Cord Injury pipeline on the basis of route of administration and molecule type.

- Profiles of late-stage pipeline products featuring sections on product description, mechanism of action and research & development progress.

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Research and Markets: Spinal Cord Injury - Pipeline Review, H2 2012

Public release date: 31-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Gillian Shasby gshasby@thejns.org 434-924-5555 Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group

Charlottesville, VA (August 31, 2012). The Journal of Neurosurgery (JNS) Publishing Group is proud to announce publication of the NACTN/AOSNA Focus Issue on Spinal Cord Injury, a supplement to the September issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, which is sponsored by AOSpine North America available in print and online. The online version of the supplement is available free to the public. The focus of this special supplement, which was spearheaded by Dr. Michael Fehlings, Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto and Medical Director of the Krembil Neuroscience Centre at the Toronto Western Hospital, is the development of cutting-edge translational research in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI), an often devastating injury that affects 2.5 million people worldwide, many of whom are first faced with it in early adulthood. The topic is addressed in a variety of forms in 17 articles and several editorials.

Many of the studies were conducted by members of the North American Clinical Trials Network (NACTN) for the Treatment of SCI, a consortium of 10 neurosurgery departments supplemented by a data management center and a pharmacological center. The principal investigator for the NACTN is Dr. Robert Grossman, Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery, The Methodist Hospital, Houston. Funded by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and the US Department of Defense, the NACTN was established to move molecular- and cell-based discoveries in the protection and regeneration of neuronal pathways from the laboratory to the clinical setting.

The supplement brings together papers focused on a variety of subjects related to identifying and evaluating different types of SCI, as well as developing therapeutic strategies for dealing with the disabilities that attend the injury. Graded assessments used to define the scope and extent of injury are presented and reviewed. Clinical and imaging predictors of neurological and functional outcomes, complications, and survival after SCI are identified and assessed. Original clinical studies and review articles on current and potential drug-based therapies are presented. Issues surrounding quality of life in patients with SCI are addressed. The cost-effectiveness of surgery in injured patients is examined and validated. Finally, the goals and progress of the NACTN in the transition of therapeutic strategies from preclinical to clinical settings are described.

Some interesting papers include the following:

Spinal cord injuries arise from a two-fold assault. First, there is the initial mechanical injury to the spinal cord, which kills neural cells in the immediate vicinity of the injury and breaks neuronal pathways between the brain and other parts of the body. Second, there is a cascade of new biochemical, cellular, and vascular events that damage axons and lead to the death of previously uninjured neural cells, expanding the area of injury and leading to further neurological compromise. This special supplement to the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine offers a unique look into current research involving the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of patients with SCI.

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NACTN/AOSNA Focus Issue on Spinal Cord Injury, supplement to the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, Volume 17, published September 1, 2012, in print and online.

Disclosure: AOSpine North America sponsored publication of this supplement to the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. Funding for studies described in the supplement was provided by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and the US Department of Defense among other organizations. Sponsors of individual studies are listed with each article.

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Therapies for spinal cord injury: On the cutting edge of clinical translation

Public release date: 29-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Kat Snodgrass mediareg@sfn.org Society for Neuroscience

WASHINGTON, D.C. New research about the brain and related disorders will be unveiled at Neuroscience 2012 in New Orleans, Oct. 1317. Findings will include how the brain weighs complex decisions; progress being made in treating Alzheimers disease, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury; and novel understanding of how life experiences, diet, and sleep influence brain health and wellness.

Neuroscience 2012 is the annual meeting of the SfN and with more than 31,000 attendees the worlds largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.

The research presented at Neuroscience 2012 is part of the latest progress in understanding how the brain and nervous system develops and works and how it breaks down, said SfN President Moses Chao. Each year, the meeting showcases new tools and valuable information about the brain from understanding learning and behavior to how the brain adapts or is ravaged by disease and disorders, Chao said.

Renowned artist Chuck Close, noted for his highly inventive techniques used to paint the human face, speaks about his life as a rolling neurological clinic and his artwork during the Dialogues between Neuroscience and Society lecture. A National Medal of Arts awardee, Close produced his iconic portraits while coping with serious impairments of his body and brain.

Credentialed media receive complimentary registration, access to a working press room, meals, and live streaming of press conferences held Sunday, Oct. 14, through Tuesday, Oct. 16. Press conference topics include:

The Social Brain People make thousands of decisions each day, from simple choices, to social judgments about ethics and morality. Explore new research being released that bridges the gap between social psychology and neuroscience to better decipher how the brain weighs complex social decisions and environments.

Early Interventions for Alzheimers Disease Diagnosing Alzheimers disease currently relies on logging mental decline over time, potentially long after the disease has wreaked havoc on the brain. What if we could detect Alzheimers disease before symptoms start? Learn more about emerging research that is helping spot initial changes in the diseased brain. What critical clues could help diagnose, delay, or prevent disease onset and suggest new avenues to treat the disease?

Adolescence Teenagers experience many emotional, social, and behavioral changes that can feed into great personal growth as well as increased risk for depression, drug experimentation, and impulsivity. Could these attributes be hardwired in the brain? New research investigates how the adolescent brain functions, and how critical development periods can alter brain health and wellness.

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Neuroscience 2012 press program features latest brain science news

NEWARK, Calif., Aug. 30, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StemCells, Inc. (STEM) today announced that Armin Curt, MD, Professor and Chairman of the Spinal Cord Injury Center at Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, and principal investigator for the Company's Phase I/II clinical trial in chronic spinal cord injury, will make an oral presentation on the progress of the trial on Monday, September 3 at the 51st Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCOS), which is being held in London, England, on September 3-5, 2012.

In his presentation, Dr. Curt will present six-month interim data from the first patient cohort in the trial. The three patients in the first cohort all have thoracic (chest-level) spinal cord injury classified as AIS A, in which there is no neurological function below the injury level. The second and third cohorts will be patients classified as AIS B and AIS C, those with less severe injury, in which there is some preservation of sensory or motor function. In addition to assessing safety, the trial will assess preliminary efficacy based on defined clinical endpoints, such as changes in sensation, motor function and bowel/bladder function. The trial is being conducted at Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, a world leading medical center for spinal cord injury and rehabilitation, and is open for enrollment to patients in Europe, Canada and the United States.

StemCells will host a conference call and webcast, which will include Dr. Curt, to discuss the interim data from its spinal cord injury trial on Tuesday, September 4, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time (8:30 a.m. Pacific Time). Interested parties are invited to listen to the call over the Internet via the Investors section of the Company's website at http://investor.stemcellsinc.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=86230&p=irol-irhome. Participants should allot extra time before the webcast begins to register and, if necessary, download and install audio software. An archived version of the webcast will be available for replay on the Company's website beginning approximately two hours following the conclusion of the live call and continuing for a period of 30 days.

About StemCells, Inc.

StemCells, Inc. is engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of cell-based therapeutics and tools for use in stem cell-based research and drug discovery. The Company's lead therapeutic product candidate, HuCNS-SC(R) cells (purified human neural stem cells), is currently in development as a potential treatment for a broad range of central nervous system disorders. In a Phase I clinical trial in Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), a fatal myelination disorder in children, the Company has shown preliminary evidence of progressive and durable donor-derived myelination in all four patients transplanted with HuCNS-SC cells. The Company is also conducting a Phase I/II clinical trial in chronic spinal cord injury in Switzerland and has reported positive interim safety data for the first patient cohort. The Company has also initiated a Phase I/II clinical trial in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and is pursuing preclinical studies in Alzheimer's disease. StemCells also markets stem cell research products, including media and reagents, under the SC Proven(R) brand. Further information about StemCells is available at http://www.stemcellsinc.com.

The StemCells, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7014

Apart from statements of historical fact, the text of this press release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is subject to the safe harbors created therein. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the prospect of retaining continued authorization to conduct a clinical trial in Switzerland in chronic spinal cord injury; the prospect for screening and then enrolling patients into the AIS B and AIS C cohorts; the prospect for evaluating trial patients for changes in their sensation, motor function and bowel/bladder function; the potential of the Company's HuCNS-SC cells to treat spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders; and the future business operations of the Company, including its ability to conduct clinical trials as well as its other research and product development efforts. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. Such statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain assumptions that may or may not ultimately prove valid. The Company's actual results may vary materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties to which the Company is subject, including the fact that additional trials will be required to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the Company's HuCNS-SC cells for the treatment of any disease or disorder; uncertainties regarding the Company's ability to recruit the patients required to conduct its clinical trials or to obtain meaningful results; uncertainties regarding the Company's ability to obtain the increased capital resources needed to continue its current and planned research and development operations; and other factors that are described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.

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StemCells, Inc. to Announce Interim Data on Spinal Cord Injury Trial at the 2012 Annual Scientific Meeting of the ...

Chicago White Sox starter John Danks pitches against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of a baseball game on Friday, Sept. 2, 2011, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

CHICAGO (CBS) White Sox starting pitcher John Danks is being sued by a Texas man, who says his spinal cord injury happened as a result of Danks failure to call 911 after a fall at Danks home.

WBBMs Steve Miller reports Blake Papst, a high school classmate of Danks, claims he was injured two years ago when he fell from a structure above the rooftop deck at Danks Chicago condo.

They used to be friends, Papsts attorney, Tim Rhatigan said.

He said, as a result of the fall at Danks home, Papst is now a paraplegic.

I cant discuss too much of his medical condition, but he is in a wheelchair, he said.

Rhatigan said Danks did not promptly call paramedics, refused to give Papst his cell phone so he could call 911, and negligently moved Papst down flights of stairs.

The lawsuit against Danks, and others, seeks unspecified damages.

Danks is in the first year of a 5-year, $65 million contract.

Danks lawyer said his client denies the allegations, and hes filing a response and a counterclaim today.

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John Danks Sued For Failing To Call 911 After Man Fell In His Home

NEW YORK, Aug. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --United Spinal Association's membership division, National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA), will host two free webinars this September for people living with disabilities and their caregivers that will focus on ways to discover a healthy & active lifestyle and how to overcome the challenges of chronic health issues such as spinal cord injury (SCI), MS, polio, ALS or spina bifida.

(Logo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110413/MM82757LOGO)

"For people living with disabilities and their caregivers, the challenges of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle can be overwhelming at times. But with the right strategy and outlook, it's within everyone's reach. These webinars will build a foundation for many to discover better health, as well as happiness and success," said Marlene Perkins, VP of Corporate and Community Relations at United Spinal.

The first webinar Discovering a Healthy & Active LifestyleSept. 5th at 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT, will offer helpful strategies to bring peace and balance to daily living. The webinar will explore ways to:

Speaker: Erena DiGonis, LMSW, CHC; Licensed Psychotherapist and Certified Health Coach

The second webinar Staying Healthy Together! Tips for Caregivers & Care RecipientsSept. 19th at 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT, will prepare people living with disabilities and their loved ones to overcome the challenges of chronic health issues such as spinal cord injury (SCI), MS, polio, ALS or spina bifida. It will also offer strategies to better communicate with healthcare professionals, become a strong advocate in healthcare situations and prevent medication/medical mishaps from taking place.

Speaker: Mark Gibbons, National Family Caregivers Association

This year, United Spinal has hosted webinars on a variety of disability-related topicsincluding healthcare, mobility, research, public policy, and veterans issues. You can access all of United Spinal's previous webinars by visiting its online webinar archive.

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United Spinal Presents Free Webinars on Healthy Living for People with Disabilities & their Caregivers

Aug. 29, 2012, 3 a.m.

RESEARCHERS have identified an antibody which, when injected into a patient's bloodstream after a spinal cord injury, could reduce the damage caused by the trauma.

The findings by researchers in Melbourne and California could have significant implications for preventing and minimising loss of motor function, for which currently there is no cure.

The head of the neuroregeneration research unit at the Centre for Eye Research Australia, Alice Pebay, said the discovery was made by stopping a particular molecule, a lipid called lysophosphatidic acid, or LPA, from attaching itself to specific cells after injury and hindering recovery.

Following brain or spinal cord injury, cells called astrocytes proliferate and form a scar. But that scar is dense and makes it hard for the nerve cells to regrow through these cells, which have formed a thick barrier.

''They can't grow through it and they die,'' Dr Pebay said.

By introducing the man-made antibody, this reduces the creation of a barrier that inhibits recovery.

''We've identified a novel way of limiting damage,'' she said. ''People didn't know that this molecule was involved in spinal cord injury and that when you block this molecule, you reduce scarring and death of the neurons.

''It's a simple injection,'' Dr Pebay said. ''That means that one day paramedics could potentially administer the antibody and reduce the damage caused by trauma.''

The findings are published in the American Journal of Pathology.

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Injection could limit spinal cord damage Save

Riverdale, NJ (PRWEB) August 28, 2012

Saturday, September 1, 2012 will mark the beginning of the first official State of New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month. After more than 18 months worth of effort from Cynthia Templeton, President of a non-profit specialized exercise gym for people with spinal cord injuries (SCI), she received word that Governor Christie had approved her Proclamation. Last year, the Federal Government proclaimed September as the National SCI Awareness Month making it seem only natural that New Jersey shares the same awareness month on a state level.

Through a letter writing campaign, Templeton was able to gain support for the idea from various organizations including Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation, The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Dr. Wise Young and Dr. Patricia Morton at the W. M. Keck Center/Spinal Cord Injury Project at Rutgers, The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, Disability Rights New Jersey and United Spinal Association. As a group they believe that having a designated month will help educate the public, prevent injuries, advocate for improved services and research, raise awareness and ultimately improve the lives of those living with SCI.

Nearly 15 years ago, the New Jersey legislature passed a landmark bill forming a Commission for Spinal Cord Research to support cutting edge SCI research. The SCI Awareness month celebrates how far we have come to make New Jersey the leading state for SCI care and cure but it also reminds us of how much work we still must do to prevent and reverse this condition that has been considered irreversible for all of human history, states Dr. Wise Young, Founding Director of the W.M. Keck Center of Collaborative Neuroscience.

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, approximately 1,275,000 individuals currently have a spinal cord injury and the New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research states roughly 6,000 of those are New Jersey residents who have sustained traumatic injuries or diseases that damage the spinal cord.

Sustaining a spinal cord injury is a life changing and devastating event. Paul Tobin, President & CEO of United Spinal believes, Through public awareness campaigns such as these, we are hopeful that the community will gain greater awareness of spinal cord injury prevention and care as well as the rights of people with SCI and all disabilities to be active members of the community.

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About Push to Walk Founded in 2007, Push to Walk is the only non-profit specialized exercise gym in the New York-New Jersey area that empowers people with spinal cord injuries to realize their individual potential. Push to Walks rigorous one-on-one workout approach challenges clients to reach their personal goals and achieve maximum independence, leading to greater success and fulfillment in their personal and professional lives. A 501(C) 3 non-profit, Push to Walk is located in Riverdale, New Jersey. Visit http://www.pushtowalknj.org to learn more.

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Governor Christie Proclaims September Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month

Portland Winterhawks forward Keegan Iverson is wearing No. 13 this season to honor fellow Minnesota high school hockey player and close friend Jack Jablonski.

Jablonski's story touched all levels of the sport last year. The 16-year-old at Benilde-St. Margaret's HS suffered a spinal cord injury last Dec. 30 in a JV hockey game.

Jablonski was checked into the boards during a game at the Holiday Hockey Classic in St. Louis Park, Minn. He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis with a severed spinal cord at the neck and two fractured vertebrae. He has been working hard on his rehabilitation since then, trying to regain more movement.

He said he has known Jablonski from the time he was a little kid.

I decided to wear it (No. 13) for the whole year, said Iverson, who was a wide-eyed 15-year-old rookie in last seasons camp.

Hes been my best friend probably since I was three years old,'' Iverson told the Winterhawks.com website.

"Ive known him forever. Its like a tragic thing, but at the same time it motivates me. He motivates me to achieve my goals because theyre his goals, too. He wants to walk again, he wants to play hockey again and I know he can do it. So Im going to push myself to achieve his goals, too. Help him, be there for him, whatever. Represent his number.

Iverson said it was a shock to see Jablonski shortly after the injury.

I didnt know how it was going to be at first. When I first saw him in his bed, just sitting there, I had no idea. I just started crying. I didnt know what I could do. It was just a shocker for me. Now, Ill text him after games and stuff. He can text, he can do I guess full movement of both arms. He can move his wheelchair. Seeing how far hes gone is just unbelievable.

Believe in miracles, I guess. Its one of his mottos.

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Hawks' Keegan Iverson wearing No. 13 this season to honor paralyzed Minnesota high schooler

17-08-2012 17:46 A fundraiser for the spinal cord injury community is taking on the theme from the popular Kevin Spacey movie called "Pay It Forward."

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Raising money for spinal cord injury community - Video

Lions Park in Mt. Brydges will be rocking this Saturday night as the 7th annual Rockin Wheel in support of spinal cord injury awareness and research is held.

THE TREWS and Bleeker Ridge will be among the top bands performing starting at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18.

Among the other bands are: Lifeline, Eleven Past One, Two Crown King and Dry County. A special feature this year will be Rockin Idol, started at 2:15, which will include six local karaoke singers ranging in age from 10 to 20-years-old.

Rockin Wheel was started by Ken Allore and has raised $100,000 in the last six years.

It was 20 years ago, that 17-year-old Kenny broke in his neck after being driven into the boards during a playoff hockey game in Belmont.

Ken never walked again, but the devastating injury didnt end his life.

As president of Rockin Wheel for spinal cord research, and ambassador for Shoot for a Cure, Ken feels more needs to be done for people with spinal cord injuries.

Ken has helped implement the stop sign on the back of all Canadian minor hockey player jerseys. The stop sign reminds kids to stop and think before checking from behind.

If we can prevent a needless spinal cord injury from happening to someone else then all our efforts will have been successful, said Ken.

Tickets are available at the door for $25.

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Public release date: 15-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Carolann Murphy CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org 973-324-8382 Kessler Foundation

West Orange, NJ. August 15, 2012. Scientists from Kessler Foundation are presenting recent findings in spinal cord injury research during Beyond Boundaries: the 2012 Conference of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP). John DeLuca, PhD, Steven Kirshblum, MD, Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, Gail F. Forrest, PhD, Denise Fyffe, PhD, and Rachel Byrne, are addressing a variety of topics at this multidisciplinary conference. Topics include new approaches to improving mobility and cognition, minimizing pain, determining prognosis and addressing health disparities. The ASCIP conference is being held at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 3-6. Attendees represent the ASCIP's membership of clinicians and researchers in medicine, science, psychology, nursing, therapy, and social work.

John DeLuca, PhD, VP of Research & Training at Kessler Foundation is giving the James J. Peters Memorial Lecture, named for the executive director of United Spinal Association who was a tireless advocate for people with spinal cord injury. Dr. DeLuca, a well-known expert in cognitive rehabilitation research, will discuss the cognitive issues that are often under recognized in patients with multiple sclerosis. Dr. Steven Kirshblum's topic for the Jayanthi Lecture is determining prognosis for the individual with acute injury. Drs. Kirshblum and Dyson-Hudson are co-directors of the Northern New Jersey SCI Model System at Kessler Foundation. Dr. Dyson-Hudson is presenting the model system's research on preventing pneumonia after spinal cord injury, as well as results of a pilot study on the use of platelet-rich plasma therapy for shoulder pain in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury.

Dr. Forrest's presentations address the scope of her innovative applications of technological advances for mobility after spinal cord injury. Drs. Forrest, Kirshblum, and colleagues, will discuss their clinical research experience with robotic exoskeletal devices, including their potential for affecting long-term health and well-being in the SCI population. Dr. Fyffe, an expert in health disparities, is an author on two posters: "Qualitative study of the impact of blood pressure dysregulation on quality of life in SCI" and "Self-reported symptoms of blood pressure dysregulation in persons with spinal cord injury." This research is VA funded and conducted in collaboration with researchers at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center.

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About SCI Research at Kessler Foundation

Through the NNJSCIS, funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, the Foundation collaborates on research in mobility, secondary medical complications, access to care, and quality of life. The Kessler NRN site is one of 6 centers in the Reeve Foundation's NeuroRecovery Network researching intensive locomotor training in SCI. Innovative studies are also being conducted with Ekso (Ekso Bionics), the bionic exoskeletal device, the LokomatPro v6 (Hocoma), a robotic treadmill training device, and with functional electrical stimulation. Additional funding sources include the National Institutes of Health, New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research, The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, the Veterans Administration, and Kessler Foundation. The Foundation, which has a model system for traumatic brain injury (NNJTBIS), is also widely known for cognitive rehabilitation research in brain injury, multiple sclerosis and stroke.

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation is one of the largest public charities in the field of disability. Kessler Foundation Research Center focuses on improving function and quality of life for persons with injuries of the spinal cord and brain, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and other chronic neurological conditions. Kessler Foundation Program Center fosters new approaches to the persistently high rates of unemployment among people disabled by injury or disease. Targeted grantmaking funds promising programs across the nation. Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, people recovering from catastrophic injuries and stroke, and young adults striving for independence are among the thousands of people finding jobs and training for careers as a result of the commitment of Kessler Foundation.

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Kessler Foundation researchers present findings at September ASCIP Conference

Public release date: 14-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Carolann Murphy CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org 973-324-8382 Kessler Foundation

West Orange, NJ. August 14, 2012. Kessler Foundation has begun testing the upgraded Ekso in individuals unable to walk due to spinal cord injury. Ekso, a wearable, battery-powered robotic exoskeletal device, has been undergoing clinical investigation at Kessler since October 2011, when the research team received the second commercial unit distributed by Ekso Bionics. Gail Forrest, PhD, assistant director of Human Performance and Engineering Research, directs Ekso research at the Foundation, in collaboration with Steven Kirshblum, MD, medical director at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.

The upgrade adds important functions, according to Ekso Bionics, which announced the availability of the upgraded Ekso on August 11. Until now, walking in Ekso meant being accompanied by two physical therapists, one of whom triggered each step. Now individuals can gradually progress to independent walking in Ekso by advancing through three levels that enable progressively greater user control. Of interest to researchers is another new feature called EksoPulse. EksoPulse collects usage data for each user and archives it on a secure cloud server, enabling documentation of individuals' progress.

"These upgrades have important implications for clinicians and researchers," noted Dr. Forrest. "Automating data collection and enabling greater independence during therapy are improvements that will advance the pace of our research while enabling greater progress for study participants with spinal cord injury." Data collection also helps provide the documentation necessary to prove the efficacy of Ekso therapy for insurers that reimburse for rehabilitative care.

Dr. Forrest's team also collects key data on the impact of Ekso training on physiological parameters (eg, cardiovascular, muscle activity), quality of life, and chronic pain. "Individuals with spinal cord injury face years of secondary complications, such as pain, pressure ulcers, depression, bowel and bladder dysfunction, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease," noted Dr. Forrest. "That's why we're looking beyond the abilities to stand and walk to the potential long-term effects of these activities on health and well being."

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About Gail Forrest, PhD

Dr. Forrest conducts mobility research at Kessler Foundation, where in addition to Ekso, she studies the application of a variety of therapies including functional electrical stimulation, activity-based therapy, and the LokomatPro v6 (Hocoma), a robotic treadmill training device. Dr. Forrest is the director of the Kessler NeuroRecovery Network site, a multicenter project of the Reeve Foundation that studies the effect of intensive repetitive locomotor training on mobility in individuals with spinal cord injuries. Dr. Forrest is assistant director of Human Performance & Engineering Research, which is headed by Guang Yue, PhD. She also holds a faculty appointment at the department of physical medicine & rehabilitation at the University of Medicine & Dentistry-New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey.

About Kessler Foundation

Originally posted here:
Kessler Foundation tests upgraded Ekso to advance study of mobility in spinal cord injury

Matthew Reeve who is in Australia promoting his father Christopher's work towards finding a cure for paralysis. (Photo by Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

FORMER Superman star Christopher Reeve would be proud to know he inspired remarkable advances in spinal cord injury research, the late actor's son says.

Matthew Reeve, who is in Australia promoting his father's work towards finding a cure for paralysis, said the Superman legacy lives on through the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which funds research and advocates the wellbeing of people with spinal cord injuries.

"I think he would be extremely proud," he told reporters in Sydney today.

"When he became paralysed, spinal cord research was fragmented, uncentralised and uncoordinated.

"He embraced the role of being champion to that, and under his beacon of leadership, we've united researchers and we've seen some remarkable changes."

The US actor became a paraplegic in 1995 when he fell from a horse while competing in a cross-country competition and died in 2004 from cardiac arrest.

Reeve's 32-year-old son, who ran the City2Surf with the Spinal Cord Injury Network's charity team on Sunday, was a keynote speaker at Connections 2012, an international conference of spinal cord injury researchers and health care professionals.

Reeve said his second visit to Australia builds on his first trip with his father in 2003, the year before he passed away.

"Today I spoke about collaboration and the importance for every one to work together," said Reeve.

Continued here:
Superman's son says legacy lives on

Former Superman star Christopher Reeve would be proud to know he inspired remarkable advances in spinal cord injury research, the late actor's son says.

Matthew Reeve, who is in Australia promoting his father's work towards finding a cure for paralysis, said the Superman legacy lives on through the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which funds research and advocates the wellbeing of people with spinal cord injuries.

"I think he would be extremely proud," he told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

"When he became paralysed, spinal cord research was fragmented, uncentralised and uncoordinated.

"He embraced the role of being champion to that, and under his beacon of leadership, we've united researchers and we've seen some remarkable changes."

The US actor became a paraplegic in 1995 when he fell from a horse while competing in a cross-country competition and died in 2004 from cardiac arrest.

Reeve's 32-year-old son, who ran the City2Surf with the Spinal Cord Injury Network's charity team on Sunday, was a keynote speaker at Connections 2012, an international conference of spinal cord injury researchers and health care professionals.

Reeve said his second visit to Australia builds on his first trip with his father in 2003, the year before he passed away.

"Today I spoke about collaboration and the importance for every one to work together," said Reeve.

"We all share a common goal."

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Superman's son says his legacy lives on

On Tuesday, the FDA granted approval for a first-ever human trial of cellular transplant to cure paralysis

Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images for The Buoniconti Fund

Marc Buoniconti attends the 26th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner to benefit the Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis at The Waldorf-Astoria on September 26, 2011 in New York City.

In the early winter of 1988, I traveled to Miami to visit Marc Buoniconti. He was 24 years old at the time, and in many ways looked quite fit full of energy, chattering on about his plans, exactly what youd expect from a person his age. But Buoniconti wasnt fit. He was in a wheelchair and hadnt moved a muscle below his shoulders since fracturing his spine between the 3rd and 4th cervical vertebrae in a college football game in October 1985.

By the time I met him, he had already done the grueling work of weaning himself from his respirator training new muscles and learning new techniques to breathe on his own. And that freedom allowed him to assume the job of point man for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, an organization co-founded by Buoniconti, his father NFL Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti the University of Miami and a handful of local surgeons.

I was never in denial about my injury, Marc Buoniconti told me at the time. When you cant move, you move through that phase pretty fast. But the absence of denial did not mean the absence of hope. Buoniconti was adamant that he would dedicate his life to getting out of his chair and helping the 300,000 other Americans living with spinal cord injury do the same. In the meantime, hed keep himself as fit as possible. When the cure comes, he said, I plan to be ready.

Bouniconti is now a 45-year-old-man with a degree in psychology, still with the Miami Project and still in a wheelchair. But the cure he spoke of 27 years ago just got a very big step closer. On Tuesday morning, Miami Project doctors convened a press conference to announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had just granted them a green light to begin Phase 1 human trials for a new surgical technique in which nerve cells from the leg would be transplanted to the spine of newly paralyzed patients in the hope that they would grow restoring at least some function and sensation.

I am more optimistic now than I have ever been, says Buoniconti. He has reason to be.

What makes spinal cord injuries as devastating as they are is that everything about them plays out in absolutes: they are instantaneous, utterly disabling and horribly permanent. That last fact has always presented both a puzzle and an opportunity. Nerves in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) those that carry signals in an arm or leg, say are able to regenerate after injury. Thats why you can badly lacerate a finger and retain full use of it. The central nervous system (CNS) is a different matter. An injured spine remains an injured spine, period. Find and harness what it is that makes things so different in the PNS and you just might get a wounded spine to heal.

As researchers learned, there are a lot of things that drive peripheral regrowth, but perhaps the most important are known as Schwann cells, which are not nerve cells themselves, but a kind of attendant, helping neurons regrow myelin the fatty insulation that covers nerve strands and otherwise stay healthy and functioning. For some years, Miami Project scientists have been transplanting Schwann cells from the legs of paralyzed rats, mice, pigs and primates to the site of the spinal injury and have been astonished at the results: in many cases, the animals recovered 70% of the lost sensation and function. That is exactly 70% more than most spinal injured patients have been told to hope for.

Excerpt from:
A Breakthrough for Spinal Cord Injury Research?