Successful stem cell treatment for acute spinal cord injury in dogs
In February 2010, a study reporting the successful treatment of spinal cord injury in dogs using cord blood was released – with researchers confident that the this technique has many potential applications in the treatment of human spinal cord injury.
While previous research on spinal cord injury has typically used rats, this study used dogs which have a spinal cord structure more similar to humans. Within the test group, those dogs that received cellular transplants exhibited gradual improvement in hind limb locomotion two to three weeks after the transplant and also demonstrated reduced cyst and injury size.
The study was a collaborative effort between a team of doctors from the Department of Veterinary Science and Veterinary Anatomy at Konkuk University in Seoul Korea.
Dr Han, President and founder of Histostem, said the research demonstrated a new less invasive method of transplanting cord blood stem cells which avoids surgical exposure and allows the cells to be more precisely transplanted into the spinal cord.
Could someone define injury please ie. is Spina Bifida classed as an ‘injury’ and is there a chance that these trials might help SB patients in the future ?
Hi Diane
We found the following post on the Spina Bifida Connection website which might be a useful starting point for you. Here’s the link and what they said below
http://spinabifidaconnection.com/showthread.php?t=95
My daughter is 2 1/2 and has Spina Bifida. We did not know until she was born that she had SB. I just happened to bank her cord blood, which means that we have her own stem cells. The only problem is that no one is doing research. I read about and emailed Dr. Gupta in India. My only response was that they are no longer doing studies. I also corresponded with a stem cell researcher that basically dismissed the India study and told me wait and something may be around in the future.
Promising news is that the Childrens hospital in Boston is introducing prenatal neural stem cells to the spinal cord for fetal repair of SB. This still doesn’t help the people who are already born and afflicted. I am currently trying to find out how many other people have their cord blood banked. I have found one other person so far. If we can get a group together we may have more success in finding someone to do research and even to answer questions. Finding doctors and researchers to answer questions is near impossible. If anyone know of others with banked cord blood, please contact me by “private message” on my profile page
This coming Monday the President will sign a bill allowing federal funding to be used for stem cell research. Let’s say some prayers for SB research and stem cells.
http://spinabifidaconnection.com/showthread.php?t=95
I have a 5yr old that due to a major car accident @ the age of 2 has spinal cord injury and brain injury. Unfortunately we didn’t have the cord blood saved. If only they were doing more research because as she grows the feet grow wrong and the muscles get weaker. Live in hope.