Leprosy bacteria can reprogram cells to revert to a stem-cell-like state, able to mature into different cell types. The scientists stumbled on the discovery while researching the way leprosy spreads around the body. The mechanism of the hijacking is unclear,…
Category: Research (page 40)
The dream of popping a pill to cure SCI is one step closer!
Researchers have developed a drug which, when taken orally, prevents the death of oligodendrocytes – the cells that insulate axons. When given to laboratory mice shortly after a spinal cord injury, the drug restored the animals’ mobility. Read more…
Etanercept seems beneficial in partial spinal cord injury
Treatment of rabbits with a partial spinal cord injury with the intramuscularly-administered tumor necrosis factor-a inhibitor etanercept is associated with improved clinical and electrophysiological recovery processes, according to research published in the December issue of the European Spine Journal. Read…
Oral drug for spinal cord injury improves movement in mice
Researchers have developed a drug which, when taken orally, prevents the death of oligodendrocytes – the cells that insulate axons. When given to laboratory mice shortly after a spinal cord injury, the drug restored the animals’ mobility. Read more…
Woman feeds herself with mind controlled robotics
Mind controlled robotics are progressing fast. Whilst not specifically cure related this research shows that the brain circuits remain intact many years after injury. For high level quadriplegics this sort technology would make an enormous difference to their quality of…
Faster, safer method for producing stem cells
A new method for generating IPS (induced pluripotent stem cells) from a patient’s own mature cells allows for the unlimited production of stem cells and reduces production time from nearly two months to two weeks. Using IPS cells also avoids…
Hand use improved after spinal cord injury with noninvasive stimulation
The researchers tested the new method in 19 people with chronic cervical spinal cord injury and 14 uninjured people. The treatment was customized to each individual and paired transcranial magnetic stimulation delivered to a specific part of the motor cortex…
Dr Hans Keirstead who developed the stem cells used by Geron talks at TEDx
Nose cell transplant enables paralysed dogs to walk
A Cambridge University team has reversed paralysis in dogs after injecting them with olfactory ensheathing cells. The cells were extracted from the lining of the dogs nose then grown and expanded for several weeks in the laboratory before injection.
The study is the first to test the transplant in “real-life” injuries rather than laboratory animals — the pets had all suffered spinal injuries which prevented them from using their back legs.
Abandoned Geron stem cell trial could get back on track
It looks like the world’s first clinical trial using stem-cells for SCI could be given a new lease of life. Back in 2011 we were all really disappointed when Geron announced it was closing its stem cell programme, even though…