Regenerative Medicine

A complete spinal cord injury results, tragically, in total paralysis of all limbs and muscles below the injury site. But now, scientists at EPFL have demonstrated in mice a new gene therapy that can regenerate nerves and restore the ability to walk.

A new stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease, in which the donor would also become the transplant recipient, is one step closer to human trials after scientists were able to successfully grow and rebuild neurons in an animal model.

A new technique may one day help restore sight to patients with inherited vision impairment. The regenerative therapy works by expressing genes that convert dormant cells into new light-sensing cells in the retina to replace those lost to disease.

Sufferers of chronic lower back pain know there's no magic bullet when it comes to easing the often debilitating symptoms of degenerative disk disease. But new regenerative cell therapy delivered with a single injection is hoping to be just that.

Getting stem cells to help repair brain tissue after injury relies on the survival of those cells. Now, a hybrid gel that helps provide the much-needed oxygen for those cells on site may be the boost needed for more effective therapy and recovery.

An international team of scientists has found a way to regenerate kidneys damaged by disease, restoring function and preventing kidney failure. The discovery could help improve treatments for complications stemming from diabetes and other diseases.

A new experimental treatment could help treat end-stage liver disease – by growing tiny new livers elsewhere in the patient’s bodies. The technique, pioneered by cell therapy company LyGenesis, is due to begin human clinical trials within weeks.

Researchers have found that the “mother” of stem cells, known as totipotent stem cells, have a much slower rate of DNA replication, which helps improve their differentiation efficiency. This could lead to major breakthrough for regenerative medicine.

Animals like axolotls can regrow fully functional replacements for lost limbs. In a breakthrough new study, scientists have demonstrated how one dose of a drug cocktail can regrow lost limbs in frogs that don’t normally have regenerative abilities.

After an injury, nerves struggle to regrow completely, leaving patients with reduced mobility and sensation. In tests on rats, researchers have now demonstrated a way to improve nerve repair using proteins from the support network around cells.

A new type of artificial scaffold encourages regenerating neurons to grow towards one another and bridge busted connections more efficiently, offering new hope for healing damaged spinal cords and restoring communication links between the brain and body.

Spotted salamanders are unique among vertebrates, in that they're the only ones whose embryos have an algae living inside them. Scientists are now hoping that a better understanding of this symbiotic relationship could lead to new drugs for humans.