Spinal Cord Injury

Where We Are

What is expected to be our final animal trial is now underway. We are using oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC's) provided by Dr. Parr's laboratory. These are considered the "resident cells" for the myelination process in the central nervous system. This trial will involve a combination treatment consisting of OPC/Lamina Propria, scar ablation with TANES. The results will be revealed near the end of 2013.

In an effort to advance our therapies toward human application, Spinal Cord Society has begun a collaborative arrangement with Ann Parr, M.D., Ph.D.. Her laboratory is located within the Stem Cell Institute at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Parr is also a practicing neurosurgeon.

During the fall of 2008, Spinal Cord Society (SCS) reached a milestone in the history of SCI research. Our scientists achieved up to 30% functional return in chronically injured laboratory rats—a first for any laboratory in the world! Thereafter, our work has been successfully repeated. During May 2012, this work was published in the Brain Research journal.

SCS believes that a cure will happen via a combination treatment.
We have developed a safe method for eliminating the glial scar that develops naturally at the site of injury. Once removed, an autologous transplant including lamina propria and olfactory ensheathing cells is provided. Finally, cyclical electrical stimulation is applied to provoke the central pattern generator, thus resulting in functional recovery

For more information concerning the advancements in medical research by Spinal Cord Society, please visit scsus.org.

Recent Publications

Neural Regeneration Research, www.nrronline.org. (abstract & article) Volume 8, Issue 2, January 2013.
Role of endogenous Schwann cells in tissue repair after spinal cord injury.
Zhang SX, Huang F, Gates M, Holmberg EG.

J Neurosci Methods. 2012 Jul 15;208(2):114-8. Epub 2012 May 10.
Somatosensory evoked potentials can be recorded on the midline of the skull with subdermal electrodes in non-sedated rats elicited by magnetic stimulation of the tibial nerve.Zhang SX, Huang F, Gates M, Holmberg EG.

Brain Res. 2012 May 25;1456:22-35. Epub 2012 Mar 29.
Tail nerve electrical stimulation combined with scar ablation and neural transplantation promotes locomotor recovery in rats with chronically contused spinal cord.Zhang SX, Huang F, Gates M, Holmberg EG.

Brain Res. 2011 Jul 5;1399:1-14. Epub 2011 May 31.
Scar ablation combined with LP/OEC transplantation promotes anatomical recovery and P0-positive myelination in chronically contused spinal cord of rats.Zhang SX, Huang F, Gates M, Holmberg EG.

Histol Histopathol. 2011 Jan;26(1):45-58.
Histological repair of damaged spinal cord tissue from chronic contusion injury of rat: a LM observation.Zhang SX, Huang F, Gates M, White J, Holmberg EG.

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