Improvement From Complete to Incomplete Injury Observed in One Patient

StemCells, Inc. Announces First Patient Cohort Completes Spinal Cord Injury Trial – Gains in Sensory Function Persist 12 Months After Stem Cell Transplant

NEWARK, Calif., Feb. 12, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEM) today announced that the twelve-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 continued to demonstrate a favorable safety profile, and showed that the considerable gains in sensory function observed in two of the three patients at the six-month assessment have persisted. Continue Reading »

Systemic hypothermia in acute cervical spinal cord injury: a case-controlled study

Systemic hypothermia remains a promising neuroprotective strategy. There has been recent interest in its use in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). In this article, we describe our extended single center experience using intravascular hypothermia for the treatment of cervical SCI. Continue Reading »

A tiny step forward for spinal cord injuries

(CNN) — As the sun rose over France on August 13, 2011, Knut Olstad was looking forward to continuing his bicycle journey along the Tour de France route. But by the end of the day, the vacation had taken a terrible turn that would change his life.

The 46-year-old financial consultant from Norway doesn’t remember much about the accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. He was shown pictures of himself lying on the ground with a broken back after being catapulted from his bike while trying to avoid a collision with a car. Continue Reading »

Geron Presents Data from GRNOPC1 Trial at International Conferences on Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation

MENLO PARK, Calif.- Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) today announced two presentations on the company’s ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of the human embryonic stem cell-based therapy, GRNOPC1, in patients with spinal cord injury. Data on the first two patients were presented at the 2011 International Conference on Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation in Washington, D.C. A second presentation was given at the 2011 Spine Symposium, which was held as part of The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Annual Scientific Meeting. The presentations were given by Edward Wirth, III, M.D., Ph.D., Geron’s Medical Director for Cell Therapies and Linda Jones, P.T., M.S., Geron’s Senior Clinical Trials Manager for GRNOPC1. Continue Reading »

SCI Stem Cell Clinical Trial Awarded $25 Million Dollars

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has recently awarded $25 million dollars to “the first clinical trial based on cells derived from human embryonic stem cells that has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).” This clinical trial has been specifically designed to benefit spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Every year, 12,000 Americans suffer SCIs that permanently alter the quality of their lives. Continue Reading »

Clinical trials give spinal injury victims hope

There is fresh hope for thousands of paraplegics in New Zealand yearning that someday someone will give them a chance to walk again.

Now, thanks to a 71-year-old Waikato housewife, recruiting for New Zealand’s first clinical trial to treat people with spinal injuries is about to begin. Continue Reading »

Nation’s Second Participant Enrolls in Human Embryonic Stem Cell Trial

CHICAGO & MENLO PARK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Researchers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) recently enrolled their first subject in a national clinical research trial of a human embryonic stem cell-based therapy for participants with a subacute thoracic spinal cord injury. Continue Reading »

Spinal Cord Injury Stem Cell Trial Gets $25 Million Award From CIRM

A human embryonic stem cell Phase I Trial for patients with spinal cord injury is to get a $25 million award from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). This is the first clinical trial based on cells derived from human embryonic stem cells that has been approved by the FDA, and also the first time CIRM has funded stem-cell derived therapy research. The trial is run by the Geron Corporation. Continue Reading »

First patient to get stem cell therapy comes forward

In the six months since scientists announced they had infused a drug made from human embryonic stem cells into a partially paralyzed patient’s spine, the identity of the recipient has been shrouded in secrecy.

Recently, rumors began circulating in Internet chat rooms that details about the closely guarded experiment were finally about to be revealed. Continue Reading »

Neuro Science for Nerve Regeneration gets Go-Ahead for Pioneering Surgical Implant to Regenerate Nerves in Spinal Cord Injuries

Professor Mark Dallamore and his team have been licenced in Sri Lanka to surgically implant chips to regenerate nerves in patients with spinal cord injuries, enabling them to regain mobility and bodily functions.

Professor Mark Dallamore announced today that he and his team have been licenced in Sri Lanka to perform ground-breaking surgery on patients suffering paralysis due to spinal cord injury. This innovative procedure will insert medical implants to regenerate nerves and enable patients to regain mobility and bodily functions. Continue Reading »