Spinal Cord Injury latest Research breakthroughs

Breakthroughs in Spinal Cord Injury Research – presentation recap

Corinne was recently invited to present at NeuroMove, a neuro-rehabilitation center in Amsterdam (NL), to share the latest breakthroughs in spinal cord injury (SCI) research. With about 100 attendees—a fantastic turnout for a summer Saturday—the session brought together a diverse audience of SCI patients and rehabilitation professionals.

 

Navigating a Complex Topic

Given the wide range of backgrounds in the room—from newly injured patients to experienced rehabilitation specialists—the presentation was carefully structured to contextualize current advances, as well as the perceived slow pace of progress toward a cure or research breakthroughs, within a scientific and strategic framework.  

The topics we addressed

1. Interpreting Media Hype vs. Real Progress and Understanding the Biological Reality of Spinal Cord Injury.
The session began by exploring how to critically assess positive news stories about SCI research, distinguishing between isolated improvements and genuine breakthroughs. We emphasized the complexity of SCI, highlighting that a true cure must address a cascade of biological challenges—challenges that become even more numerous as the injury becomes chronic (i.e., months or years after the initial trauma). This realistic introduction was designed to foster hope without falling into hype or frustration.

2. How Current Research Addresses Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Challenges.
Is the complexity of chronic SCI a reason to abandon hope for sensori-motor recovery? Absolutely not. We reviewed endParalysis online overview of key preclinical (animal testing) and clinical (human trials) projects focused on functional recovery. By describing several studies, we illustrated how rapidly modern SCI research is evolving toward smarter, more focused approaches. Increasingly, researchers are also combining strategies to address multiple biological issues within a single therapy.

• Cell and Stem Cell Therapies: Cells are no longer simply transplanted; they are now often re-engineered for greater safety and efficacy and combined with other treatments for enhanced effect.
• Biomaterials and Bio-Scaffolds: Advanced materials, leveraging supramolecular and nanotechnological advances, are being developed to bridge the lesion, but also to deliver targeted therapies—such as molecules that stimulate neural growth or peptides that neutralize scar tissue.
• Gene Therapies: These can reboot neural growth systems precisely when and where needed by switching neural growth genes on or off. They can also deliver therapeutic molecules (e.g., the Chondroitinase enzyme or other peptides) in a controlled manner, helping dissolve scar tissue and stimulate neural sprouting, thereby contributing to functional improvements.
• Neurostimulation: Both invasive and non-invasive neurostimulation devices are showing real promise, sometimes restoring partial movement or strength to hands, fingers, or legs. Sometimes it is shown to improve bowel and bladder autonomous function. In most cases, this function is only enabled while the stimulator is active and ceases once it is switched off. However, in some cases—mostly among people with incomplete spinal cord injuries—these interventions lead to lasting functional gains even after the stimulator is turned off, suggesting a degree of biological recovery, likely due to the reactivation of dormant axons (the elongated parts of neurons) or to the increased plasticity (the creation of new alternative neural pathways). The field is attracting substantial investment from start-ups worldwide, including Onward Medical, which also presented in the afternoon. Although the actual amount of recovery achieved through neurostimulation is moderate, it can serve as an excellent initial treatment and a valuable complement to biological therapies. A major advantage of electrostimulation is its extensive testing in humans, and some devices are now—albeit gradually—making their way to market, thus becoming available to more patients. This is not yet the case for the biological therapies mentioned earlier.

• Brain-Spinal Interfaces, on the other hand, are a more invasive therapies, typically requiring a sensor implanted in the skull (though some less invasive methods are in development) as well as electrodes implanted in the spinal cord. Most research in this area remains at the “proof of concept” stage and is far from market availability. Nonetheless, progress is occurring rapidly and worldwide, making this a particularly promising avenue.

 

After showcasing these promising avenues, we addressed the tough realities of Spinal Cord Injury research:

• Animal Models: Rodents are affordable but may not always accurately represent human injury and recovery. Larger animals like pigs and primates are more relevant but costly, so they are used sparingly.
• Patient Population: The relatively small number of SCI patients, combined with a focus on acute injuries, presents challenges. In the labs, studies focusing on acute injuries are quicker and less expensive. Nonetheless, it becomes quite complex to test a therapy in humans at the acute stage of the injury (only a few hours or days after the injury). This is due to spontaneous recovery rates and raise ethical questions, as it is difficult to determine the potential benefits or harms of experimental therapies at such an early stage.
• Chronic SCI Focus: We, endParalysis foundation and partners, advocate for increased research on chronic spinal cord injury, where the condition is stable and results are clearer. This also represents the largest patient group (millions rather than thousands of people) and the real market for future therapies, despite the greater biological hurdles.

   

Realism and Optimism

Is a therapy to cure us all around the corner? Definitely not. But there is genuine cause for optimism. The volume of research, the sophistication of new experimental treatments, and the level of investment in SCI therapies are all unprecedented. Advances in biotechnology, gene therapy, nanotechnology, organoids, AI, neurostimulation, brain-spinal interfaces, and smarter rehabilitation techniques are converging to create breakthroughs that are already making a difference across various scientific fields. The challenge now is to bring these innovations into mainstream SCI regenerative research.

EndParalysis foundation’s contribution

For more detailed information about the individual research projects taking place worldwide, we invite you to check our latest research overview (click here) on the endParalysis website.

Our presentation at NeuroMove (embedded below) aimed to bring a realistic, scientifically-proof but inspiring view of Spinal Cord Injury curative research. This also highlights the type of smart, focused, and innovative research we are proud to fund. If you believe in our mission and want to support the future of SCI functional recovery, please join us in making a difference (click here to discover how you can help).

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Here is the English version of the presentation delivered by endParalysis at Neuromove Amsterdam in July 2025. Click on the thumbnail to open the pdf.