A study by BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Inc. performed in the W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, found a positive correlation in spinal cord injury recovery and the use of NTF cells. According to the company’s Website, they are “focused on developing NTF cells from the patient’s own bone marrow in order to treat Parkinson, ALS and Spinal Cord Injury.”
This study used rats in which a spinal injury was created, meant to mimic that of paraplegia in humans, and then had Brainstorm’s nuerotrophic factor (NTF) human cells implanted. Scientists found that the addition of the NTF cells in the male rats inspired better recovery.
Their next step will be to use rat cells, instead of human stem cells, to limit rejection by the rat’s body. If this procedure continues to show improvement, then we can expect eventual human trials. For now, this is just another promising study, but as with many things, the knowledge that there is continuous movement forward in spinal injury recovery procedures brings hope to many.