Promoting self-repair after spinal cord injury

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Understanding how some organisms successfully repair injured organs and appendages after injury is a long-standing question in the regenerative biology field with profound implications for human health. This is especially true for the spinal cord (SC) given the poor ability of mammals to regenerate their central nervous system. About 27 million people worldwide suffer long-term disability following SC injury (SCI). Depending on the severity of the injury it can cause irreversible damage, which can lead to the loss of motor and sensory function below the site of the damage. This has far reaching consequences for the life of the individual as they face lifelong confinement in wheelchair, dependency on medical care and the risk of premature death. Therefore, there is a high requirement for improving regenerative capabilities of the spinal cord after injury.