Methods to repair the injured spinal cord have received a boost by new advances in how cells are grown in the laboratory.
It is now possible to rapidly grow a “nerve-in-a-dish” that replicates the supporting structure of nerves within the body. This means that nerve bridges with pre-formed stable connections can be transplanted into the injury site resulting in better survival and integration, and leading to improved functional outcomes. This project will optimise the balance of different cell types within the nerve bridges to maximise their therapeutic benefit for repairing the injured spinal cord and reversing paralysis.
| Host institution | Griffith University |
| Research locations | Gold Coast and Brisbane, Australia |
| Lead investigator | Dr James St John |
| Funding amount | $75,000 |
| Funding term | June 2018 – June 2019 |
