Researchers at Tel Aviv University are developing the first spinal implant for humans, using engineered tissue derived from the patients’ own cells. This innovative approach promises to help paralyzed individuals regain their ability to walk within a year.
The procedure, created at the Sagol Centre for Regenerative Biotechnology, involves converting a patient’s blood and fat cells into functional spinal cord tissue. Professor Tal Dvir, leading the research team, mentioned, “Over 80% of animals have regained their full walking ability” during preclinical trials with engineered implants.
The process starts with reprogramming blood cells from the patient through genetic engineering, allowing them to behave like embryonic stem cells capable of becoming any cell type. At the same time, adipose tissue from the patient is used to obtain substances such as collagen and sugar to create unique hydrogels, which serve as the foundation for the implants.
“We take cells that have been turned into embryo-like stem cells and place them into the gel, simulating embryonic development within the spinal cord,” Professor Dvir explained. The outcome is a fully developed 3D spinal cord implant with a neuronal network that can transmit electrical signals.
This technique addresses a particularly challenging type of injury. Dvir noted, “If the spinal cord is severed due to an accident or battlefield trauma, that connection is broken,” likening it to an electrical cable where two unconnected ends cannot pass signals.
Unlike other tissues in the body, the spinal cord lacks the ability to regenerate. “Neurons don’t divide or repair themselves like skin cells can after an injury,” Dvir highlighted.
The team successfully tested the implants in experimental animals that had experienced chronic paralysis, closely mirroring the conditions of human patients a year post-injury. The noteworthy success in these trials led to approval from Israel’s Ministry of Health.
The first human implant is anticipated to happen within the next year. For this initial trial, researchers will focus on patients who have experienced recent paralysis, around a year post-injury.
This technology is being commercialized by a biotechnology company called Matrix, co-founded in 2019 by Professor Dvir and Dr. Aronsinai with a licensing agreement from a technology transfer company at Tel Aviv University. Company CEO Gil Hakim referred to this progress as “the transition from pioneering research to patient care.”
“Our approach utilizes each patient’s own cells to create spinal cords, minimizing critical safety risks,” Hakim emphasized, noting that successful trials could reshape a medical field that has long lacked effective solutions.
The tailored nature of the treatment significantly reduces the risk of rejection that often comes with implant surgeries. About a month post-laboratory development, the researchers expect to create “3D implants with numerous neurons capable of transmitting electrical signals,” which can then be placed in the damaged area of the spinal cord.
Professor Dvir expressed optimism, stating, “Once we demonstrate that the treatment is effective, the possibilities expand for treating various injuries.”
This study reflects years of effort since the team first designed human spinal cord tissue in laboratory conditions, building on their initial success from three years ago. The swift transition from lab studies to human trials illustrates the potential of Israeli medical advancements in treating conditions previously deemed untreatable.
International attention has been drawn to this breakthrough, as it represents the first effort to replace damaged spinal cord sections with lab-grown tissue that can integrate with healthy tissue surrounding the injury.
The significance of this pioneering spinal transplantation from Israel is underscored by the hope it brings for paralyzed patients to regain mobility through this cutting-edge technique.
