Background

The groundbreaking procedure showing promise today builds on decades of research, starting with Professor Geoffrey Raisman at the UCL Institute of Neurology. In 1969, Professor Raisman discovered that damaged nerve tissue could form new connections – a concept he called plasticity. Though controversial at the time, it’s now widely accepted.

In 1985, he identified olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) as key to enabling nerve fibres to regenerate. These discoveries led to his hypothesis that damaged nerve fibres in spinal cord injuries could regenerate if given a “bridge” across the scar tissue blocking their path.

The solution came from the sense of smell – the only system in the body where nerve fibres naturally regenerate. Professor Raisman showed that OECs provide the pathway for this regeneration.

Inspired by this research, Dr. Pawel Tabakow of Wroclaw University Hospital in Poland collaborated with Professor Raisman to develop a clinical procedure. Using OECs transplanted from the nasal system and a nerve graft as the bridge, Dr. Tabakow successfully treated a patient with spinal cord injury.

Thanks to years of rehabilitation, this patient can now walk with a frame and continues to improve.

This work represents a monumental step toward curing spinal cord injuries, and we’ll share updates on further progress as they happen.