Hope for spinal injury patients as paralysed rats walk after stem cell transplants

NERVE cells from human embryonic stem cells and transplanted into paralysed rats have enabled the animals to walk again.

The findings, published yesterday in the New Scientist magazine, add to a growing number of studies that suggest embryonic stem cells could have a valuable role to play in treating spinal injuries.

The researchers, whose work was funded by stem cell giant Geron of Menlo Park, California, say trials on people could start in just two years.