Researchers have come across a stimulating discovery that may give paraplegics the ability to walk again. The researchers working in part with Neuralstem, a small biotech company, have observed that if you implant the right human stem cells into the spines of paralyzed rats, the cells will become active and regenerate in a manner that allows the rats to walk again. This concept is known as stem-cell research, and although it’s a controversial issue among society, there’s no denying that it’s a miraculous finding by the company.
Can this finding in effect work with humans? Well, Neuralstem is allowed to being testing the same science on humans in a study that would be conducted at the University of Pennsylvania. Results of the test would be seen within six months. The process is referred to as regenerative medicine, or cell therapy, and if the study shows positive results Neuralstem will be a leader in continuing to find innovative medicine and research that will have great impact on the paraplegic community.
In the study that will be administered at the University of Pennsylvania, researchers and scientists will be testing the use of stem cells to treat a kind of paralysis called ischemic paraplegia. This occurs when people have a hemorrhage in the spine, typically because doctors had to clamp the aorta, the main artery from the heart, when treating another problem. The study will be more on the safe and cautious side of things rather than an intense research project.
“But these will be real patients getting the real thing from the beginning, so we expect to see if we have impact,” says Neuralstem Chief Executive Richard Garr.
In addition to the tests that will be taking place in March, Neuralstem will also being testing cell therapy on patients with Lou Gherig’s disease or traumatic spinal cord injuries. The technique might also be used to treat other central-nervous system disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzhiemer’s diseases, as well as depression.
Neuralstem, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing human neural stem cell technology in the field of regenerative medicine. The cells used are manufactured both in-house and on an outsource basis. Neuralstem owns its own technology that allows doctors to reproduce large amounts of stem cells and shut off the reproduction process when enough cells have been made.
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