Israel is preparing for a groundbreaking medical procedure that could change the lives of millions. Tel Aviv University announced that doctors in Israel will soon perform the world’s first human spinal cord transplant, using a patient’s own cells. This historic surgery could help paralyzed patients stand and walk again—something once thought impossible.
Why This Matters
Spinal cord injuries affect more than 15 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Most injuries are caused by car accidents, falls, or violence. Currently, there is no cure—treatments focus only on preventing further damage, reducing pain, and helping patients adapt with physical therapy and assistive devices like wheelchairs.
Unlike other parts of the body, the spinal cord cannot naturally repair itself. Once damaged, the nerve pathways are blocked, leaving patients permanently paralyzed below the injury.
How the New Procedure Works
Professor Tal Dvir, who leads the Sagol Center for Regenerative Biotechnology at Tel Aviv University, explained it simply:
“The spinal cord is like an electrical cable. If it’s cut, signals from the brain can’t pass through, and the body stops responding below the injury.”
To fix this, his team developed a lab-grown spinal cord using the patient’s own cells:
- Doctors take blood and fat tissue from the patient.
- The blood cells are reprogrammed into stem-cell-like cells.
- The fat tissue is turned into a supportive gel, creating a custom scaffold.
- Together, these grow into a personalized spinal cord structure.
- Surgeons then implant it into the damaged area, reconnecting the nervous system.
Animal studies have been promising—rats with paralysis regained the ability to walk after receiving similar implants.
From Lab to Patients
This technology, developed over the past three years, has already been tested successfully in mice. The research was published in the journal Advanced Science.
Israel’s Ministry of Health has now approved “compassionate use” trials for eight patients, making Israel the first country in the world to attempt such a surgery.
Professor Dvir called it a moment of “national pride,” noting that both the science and technology were developed in Israel. The biotech company Matricelf, founded in 2019, is commercializing the innovation and leading the upcoming procedure.
What Experts Say
- Gil Hakim, CEO of Matricelf, said:
“This breakthrough could set a new global standard for spinal cord treatment. If successful, it will give hope to millions who have no real solutions today.” - Professor Dvir added:
“Our goal is simple but life-changing—to help paralyzed patients rise from their wheelchairs. The animal trials were extraordinary, and we believe humans can achieve the same results.”
A New Chapter in Medicine
If successful, this first-ever spinal cord transplant will not just be a medical achievement for Israel but a major leap forward for global healthcare. For the millions living with paralysis, it represents something more powerful than science—it represents hope.
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