Researchers developed a gene-delivery system that converts reactive astrocytes into functional neurons, improving motor recovery in mice and rats. The system, TRANsCre-DIONE, selectively targets scar-forming cells and reprograms them into neurons, which generate nerve impulses and receive signals from other neurons.
The True Grit program, a Rutgers Health study, evaluates a model for supporting independence in young people with spinal cord injuries as they transition from high school to adulthood. Participants in the 2024 cohort demonstrated progress toward their individual goals, with gains seen in participation scores and emotional resilience.
The US FDA has cleared Eve, the first self-balancing personal exoskeleton, enabling eligible adults with spinal cord injury to walk and perform daily activities hands-free. Participants reported improvements in health status, psychological well-being, and quality of life, demonstrating substantial clinical relevance.
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes have developed a regenerative treatment using stem cell-derived spinal interneurons to repair damaged neural networks in rats. The new cells not only survived and formed connections with the animals' own neural circuits but also improved breathing-related motor function after transplantation.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have found a way to intervene early in traumatic brain injuries using a natural, gut-derived chemical that prevents post-traumatic epilepsy from taking root. The treatment reduced brain inflammation, improved memory and mood, protected brain cells, made seizures both rarer and harder to trigger.
A groundbreaking study published in Science Translational Medicine has successfully restored the sense of touch in individuals with spinal cord injuries using brain-computer interface technology. The study found that electrical pulses delivered to the somatosensory cortex remained stable and localized over a period of up to 10 years, w...
A specific subgroup of neutrophils signals the immune system to dial down its response, allowing regeneration. The study shows that the fine regulation of inflammation is crucial for healing and that unleashing the right signals can reactivate nerve regeneration.
The University of Louisville has opened an expanded Pediatric NeuroRecovery Center, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and increasing treatment capacity by 33%. The center provides life-changing therapies to children with spinal cord injuries, accelerating recovery and expanding access for those in need.
A new review reveals that spinal cord injury can trigger a cascade of systemic complications throughout the entire body, affecting organs far from the original injury site. The authors propose a neuro-immune-metabolic network framework for understanding these complications and suggest a shift towards proactive, system-wide recovery.
The collaboration aims to expand research and clinical program development in spinal cord stimulation, pairing it with intensive activity-based training to improve movement, mobility, and other functions. This effort will help move evidence-based practices into broader clinical use, benefiting people living with a spinal cord injury.
Researchers develop a gene therapy approach to restore normal nerve signaling and reduce muscle spasticity in spinal cord injury patients. The treatment targets GABA signaling and has shown significant improvements in reducing spasticity and restoring reflex function.
Researchers found that Buyang Huanwu Decoction alleviates acute inflammation following spinal cord injury by regulating the complement and coagulation cascades. The treatment promotes neuroprotection and motor function recovery, suppressing microglia-mediated inflammation.
Scientists have created a miniature circuit that mimics the brain and spinal cord connection, showing that previously thought irreversible nerve damage can be reversed. The researchers found that blocking specific genes in mature neurons restored axon regrowth ability.
A novel therapeutic paradigm combines electroacupuncture with regenerative tissue engineering to enhance nerve regeneration and functional recovery in spinal cord injury. The study found that electroacupuncture stimulation improved neural signal transmission, suppressed neuroinflammation, and promoted myelin regeneration.
Researchers propose a unifying framework to rebuild brain–spinal communication in SCI patients, enabling closed-loop neurotechnology to support stable or adaptive function. The study introduces three technological routes to address communication loss, state mismatch, and learning failure.
A new treatment approach has been developed to treat spinal cord injuries by activating signaling pathways in both injured and uninjured nerve cells. Using the protein hyper-interleukin-6 (hIL-6), the researchers showed consistent improvements in walking ability and coordinated gait patterns in mice with contusion injuries.
A bidirectional brain-computer interface (BCI) allows individuals with spinal cord injuries to control a robotic exoskeleton using brain signals and receive artificial leg sensation. The system, developed by UC Irvine researchers, demonstrates high accuracy in step counting and sensory discrimination tasks.
Researchers identified previously unseen changes in motor coordination that result from incomplete spinal cord injuries. Motor units, nerve-to-muscle connections, struggle to spread signals smoothly across muscles at low exertion after the injury.
A new study reveals that blocking the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) helps neurons regrow damaged axons and recover motor and sensory function. AHR acts as a key regulator that determines how neurons respond after injury, slowing down axon growth.
Research reveals that TGF-β1 plays a critical role in fibrotic scar tissue formation, limiting neural regeneration and recovery after spinal cord injury. Inhibiting TGF-β1 signaling reduces fibrotic scarring and improves functional recovery.
A new study describes an implantable brain-computer interface (iBCI) typing neuroprosthesis that can restore communication with speed and accuracy for people with paralysis. Two clinical trial participants, one with ALS and the other with a spinal cord injury, used the device to communicate rapidly and accurately, with a word error rat...
Researchers at Brown University have made significant progress in restoring two-way communication across a damaged spinal cord site. Electrical stimulation below the injury site partially restored muscle control in lower extremities, while stimulation above the injury enabled participants to understand their leg position in space. This...
Researchers at RCSI have developed an RNA-activated implant that delivers growth-promoting particles to injured nerve cells, encouraging them to regrow after spinal cord injury. The implant helps overcome molecular barriers by silencing a gene called PTEN.
Researchers developed an advanced organoid model for human spinal cord injury and tested a promising regenerative therapy. The treatment triggered neurite growth and reduced scarring in injured organoids, offering validation for its potential to work in humans.
A research team has developed a way to produce corticospinal-like neurons that centrally degenerate in motor neuron disease and are damaged in spinal cord injury. The study uses a multi-component gene-expression system called NVOF to precisely fine tune regulatory signals, resulting in mature neurons with distinct characteristics.
The SPINECRAFT project aims to create a cutting-edge, 4D human spinal cord construct that mirrors the architecture and functionality of the real spinal cord. This platform will enable detailed studies of spinal cord biology and integrate patient-derived cells to recreate disease-specific environments.
A new study published in Neurology found that age does not impact neurological recovery after spinal cord injury, but older adults have poorer functional outcomes in tasks such as feeding, bathing, and mobility. The study also found a significant reduction in functional recovery with increasing age, particularly in those over 70.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that specific DNA sequences, known as enhancers, are activated after spinal cord injury and instruct cells to respond. This knowledge could lead to more precise treatments targeting the affected cells, revolutionizing the treatment of spinal cord injuries.
A new study by Mass General Brigham reveals that patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries are at a higher risk of developing chronic health problems, including hypertension, stroke, depression, and diabetes. The study highlights the need for proactive and multidisciplinary long-term care strategies to address these issues.
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have harnessed bioinformatics to identify Thiorphan as a promising new drug for spinal cord injury, showing effectiveness in adult human brain cells and improving hand function in rats with SCI.
Researchers discover that spinal cord-derived neural stem cells from different segments exhibit distinct biological characteristics and repair efficacies. Specifically, thoracic hscNSCs demonstrate superior survival rates, neural axon regeneration efficiency, and reduced fibrotic scarring in rat models of thoracic SCI.
Researchers have developed an implantable system to stabilize blood pressure in people with spinal cord injuries. The therapy, which involves delivering finely tuned electrical stimulation, has been shown to restore blood pressure stability and prevent life-threatening spikes.
Researchers developed a new PET tracer that effectively identifies synapse loss in the spinal cord and brain after spinal cord injury. The study found reduced uptake of the tracer at the injury site and in the amygdala and cerebellum, suggesting potential for diagnosing and monitoring spinal cord injuries.
Researchers found that an astrocytic 'brake' mechanism, fueled by the neurotransmitter GABA, blocks spinal cord repair after injury. Inhibiting this pathway with the MAOB inhibitor KDS2010 enables recovery of spinal cord function in animal models.
Dr. Trevor Dyson-Hudson has received the prestigious James J. Peters Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to spinal cord injury healthcare. He is co-director of the Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research at Kessler Foundation.
The system uses magnetoelectric power-transfer technology to deliver precise electrical stimulation to organs like the heart and spinal cord. The more devices in the network, the more efficient it is, offering a less invasive alternative to traditional implantable medical devices. This technology has potential for treating conditions s...
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a groundbreaking process to combine 3D printing, stem cell biology, and lab-grown tissues for spinal cord injury recovery. The method involves creating 3D-printed scaffolds with microscopic channels that promote the growth of new nerve fibers.
Researchers from Kessler Foundation will share insights on spinal cord injury recovery, technological innovation, and caregiver support. The conference highlights the Foundation's leadership in rehabilitation science and commitment to advancing outcomes for individuals with SCI.
The new book Spinal Surgery Biomechanics: Principles for Residents offers a comprehensive exploration of core biomechanical concepts essential for mastering spinal surgical procedures. It bridges the gap between theory and practice, providing a biomechanical framework that supports surgical planning and patient safety.
A USC research team has made a groundbreaking discovery about the human spinal cord's role in bladder control. The study used functional ultrasound imaging to observe real-time changes in blood flow dynamics during bladder filling and emptying, revealing areas where activity is correlated with bladder pressure.
Researchers at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have developed a 3-D printed implant that delivers electrical stimulation to injured areas of the spinal cord, enhancing nerve cell growth. The study has shown promising results in lab experiments and may enable new medical devices for traumatic spinal cord injuries.
A new clinical study at UT Dallas demonstrated significant improvements in arm and hand function for individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury. The closed-loop vagus nerve stimulation (CLV) approach produced meaningful benefits, regardless of age or severity of impairment.
Researchers developed a brain decoder to restore communication between the brain and spinal cord, allowing for rehabilitation and potentially restoring movement. The decoder used electroencephalography to predict movement intention, outperforming previous methods.
The Kosair for Kids Center for Pediatric NeuroRecovery is expanding its facilities to increase treatment capacity by 50%, allowing up to 24 children per day to receive life-changing therapies. The new 12,500-square-foot space will also enhance research collaboration and improve patient care.
Researchers introduced a recombinant protein to pericytes, which change shape and create cellular bridges that support axon regeneration. In mouse experiments, the treatment promoted robust axon regenerative growth and restored leg function.
University of Cincinnati researchers, in collaboration with end users, develop a user-centered, easy-to-use assistive device to help restore hand grasping motions. The team aims to combine an exoskeleton device with functional electrical stimulation (FES) technology to create a hybrid system.
Researchers evaluated different types of Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE) scores among US trauma center patients. They found that GOSE-All scores capture the combined effect of brain and extracranial injuries, while GOSE-TBI scores exclude extracranial injury effects.
Researchers developed a novel blood test that accurately indicates spinal cord injury (SCI) severity and predicts potential recovery. The test identifies multiple biomarkers, including DNA and proteins, to rapidly diagnose SCI and project long-term neurological functional recovery.
Researchers discover edonerpic maleate enhances neural plasticity, supporting cortical reorganization and improving motor control in non-human primates with SCI. The compound promotes AMPA receptor movement to areas responsible for motor control, strengthening existing neural connections.
A team developed a system integrating implanted spinal cord neuroprosthesis with rehabilitation robotics, delivering well-timed electrical pulses to stimulate muscles. The technology enhances immediate mobility and fosters long-term recovery, presenting a more effective rehabilitation approach than robotics alone.
Researchers are conducting a first-in-human clinical trial to test a modified herpes virus that targets spinal cord nerve cells to treat neurogenic bladder. The therapy, EG110A, aims to block sensory nerve signals causing involuntary bladder contractions and incontinence.
Binghamton University researchers have created a hydrogel electrode that includes conductive carbon nanotubes to monitor nerve activity in spinal cord neurons and leg muscles in mice. The technology solves the problem of rigid materials causing damage during movement, allowing for long-term functionality and single-cell signal detection.
A new PET tracer has been developed to visualize intact nerve connections in the spinal cord, which may indicate a better chance of recovery. This breakthrough has the potential to help diagnose injuries more precisely, monitor recovery, and evaluate the effectiveness of new therapies.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a unique method for encoding natural touch sensations via specific microstimulation patterns in implantable electrodes. This allows individuals with spinal cord injuries to feel tactile edges, shapes, curvatures and movements, enabling them to control a bionic arm with the...
Scientists at EPFL and Università San Raffaele have found a way to address muscle spasticity in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury by using high-frequency electrical stimulation. This treatment gives paralyzed patients access to rehabilitation protocols, overcoming muscular stiffness and spasms.
A systematic literature search identified high-priority clinical actions for post-acute care, including early education, risk assessment, and mental health screening. Implementing these actions can improve the quality of care for non-hospitalized TBI patients.
A clinical trial showed that an antibody blocking Nogo-A protein improves motor function in patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries. The treatment led to significant improvements in voluntary muscle activation and everyday life functional independence. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings.
The InteReg project aims to create interactive biomaterials that instruct cells to regenerate after brain or spinal cord injuries, potentially treating MS and other neurological disorders. The project, funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation, brings together experts in biology, chemistry, medicine, and polymer research.
A $1.5 million grant will advance clinical testing of the noninvasive device in human participants with spinal cord injuries who experience AD. The device detects AD using sensors and controllers, measuring heart activity, skin nerve response, galvanic skin response, and skin temperature.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that hospital-acquired pressure ulcers are associated with poorer neurological outcomes and reduced motor function in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury. The findings suggest that preventing pressure ulcers can help protect these patients and lead to improved medical care.