It is 45 years since Neil Armstrong uttered his now famous words. Within the last few weeks other noteworthy steps were taken that have been hailed as 'more impressive than man walking on the moon'. This is no tabloid hype, but the opinion of Prof Geoff Raisan, Chair of Neural Regeneration at UCL's Institute of Neurology. The 'steps' were those taken by Darek Fidyka, a forty year old Polish man, previously paralysed from the chest downwards as the result of stab wounds four years ago that almost completely severed his spine.
For 40 years, Prof Raisan has been studying how to repair the spinal cord. In animal studies he showed that olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) injected into the rat spinal cord could reverse paralysis. OECs form part of our sense of smell; they act as pathway cells that enable nerve fibres in the olfactory system to be continually renewed. The breakthrough occurred using multiple micro-injections of cells cultured from OECs taken from Mr Fidyka's olfactory bulb into the neural tissue either side of his cord transection. The 'gap' was bridged by tiny strands of nerve tissue, taken from the patient's ankle, acting as a scaffold. The OECs appear to have stimulated the spinal cord cells to regenerate, bridging the severed cord. MRI scans show the previous gap has filled in.
Three months after surgery Mr Fidyka noted new muscle growth in his thigh and after a further three months he was able to take faltering steps between parallel bars, using knee braces. Two years after the surgery, he can now walk outside, with only the aid of a frame. Bladder and bowel sensations are beginning to return.
The pioneering neurosurgery was undertaken by Pawel Tabakow at Wroclaw University Hospital who said: 'what we thought for many years was impossible [regeneration of the spinal cord] is becoming a reality'. Any hype over the years has been about the promise of embryonic stem cells. This has led to millions of pounds of public money being ploughed into questionable research projects, destroying more than three million human embryos in the process. What is so wonderful about this case is that (once again) it demonstrates the potential of adult stem cells. Commenting on the news, Lord Alton declared: 'When good science and good ethics march hand in hand, it is an unbeatable combination and serves the highest interests of humanity.'
The final word goes to Prof Raisan: 'Our goal now is to develop this first procedure to a point where it can be rolled out as a worldwide general approach. We stand on the threshold of a historic advance.' Now that really would be 'one giant leap for mankind'
