FROM ISRAEL: NEW TREATMENTS FOR SPINAL CORD INJURIES
- PortaleCEM
- Sep 27, 2025
- 3 min read
According to the World Health Organization, more than 15 million people worldwide live with spinal cord injuries, most of which result from traumatic causes such as falls, road accidents, and violence.
At present, spinal cord injuries cannot be fully cured, so treatment focuses on stabilising the patient, preventing further damage, and maximising functional recovery. Emergency care often involves immobilising the spine, reducing inflammation, and, in some cases, performing surgery to repair fractures or relieve pressure. Spinal cord injuries are among the few human injuries that the body is unable to heal naturally.
“The spinal cord transmits electrical signals from the brain to all parts of the body. When it is severed by trauma—such as a road accident, a fall, or a combat injury—the chain is broken. Think of an electrical cable that has been cut: when the two ends no longer touch, the signal cannot pass, and the patient remains paralysed below the site of the injury.”
explained Professor Tal Dvir, Director of the Sagol Center for Regenerative Biotechnology and the Nanotechnology Center at Tel Aviv University, who is leading the project. Although experimental therapies—including stem cells and robotic devices—are currently under investigation, no treatment yet reliably restores full spinal cord function. A new procedure aims to replace the damaged section with a laboratory-grown spinal cord that fuses with healthy tissue above and below the injury.
Israel is preparing to perform the world’s first human spinal cord implant using the patient’s own cells—a medical breakthrough that could allow paralysed patients to stand and walk again—Tel Aviv University announced on Wednesday.
The surgical procedure, scheduled for the coming months, will take place in Israel and marks a historic milestone in regenerative medicine. Dvir is also the chief scientist of Matricelf, the Israeli biotechnology company commercialising the technology. Unlike other tissues, spinal cord neurons cannot regenerate naturally and, over time, scar tissue blocks the remaining signals. The new procedure aims to replace the damaged section with a laboratory-grown spinal cord that fuses with healthy tissue above and below the injury. Animal studies in rats have shown remarkable results, with the animals regaining the ability to walk normally.
The innovation began about three years ago, when Dvir’s laboratory engineered a customised three-dimensional human spinal cord in the lab. The results, published in the peer-reviewed journal Advanced Science, showed that mice with chronic paralysis regained mobility after receiving the engineered implants.
The procedure starts with the patient’s blood cells, which are reprogrammed into stem-cell-like cells capable of transforming into any type of cell. Adipose tissue is also collected to create a customised hydrogel scaffold, in which the stem cells develop into a spinal cord structure.
This engineered tissue is then implanted, replacing scarred areas and reconnecting the nervous system. A few months ago, Professor Dvir and his team received preliminary approval from the Israeli Ministry of Health for “compassionate use” studies on eight patients, making Israel the first country to attempt this procedure.
“This is undoubtedly a source of national pride. The technology was developed here in Israel, at Tel Aviv University and at Matricelf, and from the very beginning it was clear to us that the very first surgical procedure would be carried out in Israel, on an Israeli patient.”
Dvir stated. The technology was subsequently commercialised through Matricelf, founded in 2019 under a licensing agreement with Ramot, Tel Aviv University’s technology transfer company.
“This milestone marks the transition from pioneering research to patient treatment. Using each patient’s own cells eliminates major safety risks and places Matricelf at the forefront of regenerative medicine. This first procedure is more than a scientific breakthrough; it is a step toward transforming an area of medicine long considered incurable.”
Gil Hakim, CEO of Matricelf, stated. He added: “If successful, this therapy could define a new standard of care in spinal cord repair, addressing a multi-billion-dollar market that currently lacks effective solutions. We are proud that Israel is leading this global effort, and we are fully committed to bringing this innovation to patients around the world.”
“Our goal is to help paralysed patients get out of their wheelchairs. Studies in animal models have shown extraordinary success, and we hope that the results in humans will be equally promising,” Dvir stated.
LUCIANO BASSANI
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