Researchers who study the uses of stem cells to treat and cure certain conditions may soon begin limited testing on patients with spinal cord injuries, according to a recent article in The Washington Post.
Spinal cord injuries occur when the spinal cord, or the bundle of nerves responsible for communications between the body and the brain, becomes bruised, lacerated, or severed. Spinal cord injuries are more likely to occur during car crashes, workplace injuries, falls, and other types of accidents. Patients who suffer a spinal cord injury may live with lifelong medical consequences, including loss of motor ability, the ability to control or regulate bodily functions, and paralysis.
Now, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have announced they may be able to start testing the use of stem cells to help repair human spinal cord injuries. The plans for testing are currently tentative. No date has been set, and researchers have not yet agreed on what type of testing they should begin with or how the tests should be carried out.
Nevertheless, the possibility of testing this new medical treatment for spinal cord injuries has caused intense debate in the medical community, as well as among patients and government regulators. One major concern voiced by the Food and Drug Administration is whether transplanted stem cells will continue to grow normally or will result in tumors. The FDA has asked some stem cell researchers for additional testing on tumor risks before moving on to patient trials.
Spinal cord injury patients and their families are all too familiar with the many life-altering changes this type of injury causes, especially when it is the result of an accident caused by another person’s negligence. At Tenn and Tenn, P.A., our New Hampshire spinal cord injury lawyers have the resources and experience to protect your legal rights after an accident, ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve after a spinal cord injury. Please call (603) 614-5055 today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.