Israel is set to perform the world’s first human spinal cord implant using a patient’s own cells, a procedure that could allow paralyzed patients to regain mobility, Tel Aviv University announced. The surgery, expected in the coming months, will take place in Israel under the leadership of Professor Tal Dvir, head of the Sagol Center for Regenerative Biotechnology.
The procedure uses blood and fat cells from the patient to create a lab-grown spinal cord that replaces damaged tissue and reconnects the nervous system. Animal studies have shown that the implants can restore walking ability in paralyzed rats.
The technology, commercialized by Israeli biotech company Matricelf, recently received preliminary approval from Israel’s Ministry of Health for “compassionate use” trials in eight patients. Matricelf CEO Gil Hakim called the milestone “a step toward transforming an area of medicine long considered untreatable,” while Dvir emphasized the potential to help patients rise from wheelchairs.
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