The path to recovery from spinal cord injury (SCI) is full of challenges.
If you’re interested in taking part in research to evaluate investigational therapies for SCI, you may be interested in a clinical research study called Pathway that is evaluating the potential of neural stem cells to treat cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI).
What is the Pathway study?
The purpose of the Pathway Study is to evaluate the safety and potential benefit of neural stem cell transplantation for people with cSCI. If you are eligible for the study and if you choose to participate, your participation will last approximately 12 months.
Who can participate?
You may be able to join the study if you are 18 to 60 years old and:
- You have a cervical spinal cord injury that is classified as AIS grade A, B, or C
- It has been less than two years since your injury occurred
- You are generally in good health aside from your spinal cord injury
How does stem cell therapy work?
One potential treatment option being evaluated in research studies like the Pathway Study is stem cell therapy. Stem cells are unspecialized and have the potential to become any type of specialized cell in the body. The stem cells used in the Pathway Study are neural stem cells. Neural stem cells come from brain tissue and have the ability to self-renew and become the main types of mature cells found in the brain and spinal cord. Studying neural stem cell therapy for cSCI may help us learn if neural stem cells can replace some of the cells that were damaged or lost as a result of the spinal cord injury.
Patients taking part in the Pathway Study will be evaluated and may undergo surgery to have neural stem cells transplanted into the spinal cord near the site of the injury. Patients undergoing surgery will also receive medication to suppress the immune system to help keep their immune system from rejecting the new stem cells.
What are the potential risks and benefits?
Everyone who participates in a research study must first complete a screening visit. During the screening visit, the study doctor will explain to you the study details and the potential risks and benefits of participation in the study.
What we learn in this study may help us learn more about cSCI and help us develop future treatment options.
Study participation is voluntary. If you choose to participate, you may leave the study at any time for any reason. The study doctor and staff will be available to help you throughout the study and to address any questions you may have.
To find out if you may be eligible to participate, visit www.sciresearchstudy.com
