A scientist from Keio University in Japan, Hideyuki Okano, announced the results of an experiment using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) to treat patients with spinal cord injuries. Four Japanese individuals who had sustained injuries and became paralyzed participated in the study.
Two million iPS cells were directly injected into each of the four patients' damaged areas. One 60-year-old man was able to stand up and is now learning to walk after the cell injection. Another participant began moving his arm and leg muscles.
The study was pioneering in its field, and the project received government support in Japan in 2019 following successful tests on monkeys. The iPS technology was developed by Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka in 2006.
"This is an impressive recovery," noted Hideyuki Okano from Keio University. After a year of observation, no side effects were identified, and half of the participants showed significant improvement.