Neural Repair Institute: Advancing the Field of Neural Repair

Transverse Cross Section through the Spinal Cord

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is one of the neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system.  The injury may be in the form of contusion, hemisection, or complete section of the spinal cord.  The lesion leads to damage of the fibers and cells (neurons) at and near the site of injury which causes functional disturbances including limb weakness or paralysis (monoparesis, monoplegia, paraparesis, and paraplegia) and/or sensory and autonomic deficits. These functional impairments of spinal cord injury can be reversible or irreversible.

Many treatment modalities have been postulated and/or tested for repair of spinal cord injury using cellular and molecular approaches. Cellular approaches include stem cells (such as mesenchymal stem cells), olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), activated macrophages, Schwann cells, and genetically modified cells. On the other hand, molecular approaches to manage spinal cord injury include methylprednisolone, neurotrophic factors, anti-Nogo A, chondroitinase ABC, rolipram, and cAMP-level-elevating drugs.

To learn about strategies of regeneration of the central nervous system, please click here.