Many patients report significantly more control.
Over the past several years, research has delivered a clear message: STEM Cell Therapy holds the potential to drive meaningful recovery after spinal cord injury. With the support of advanced medical technologies – particularly autologous (patient-derived) and expanded (laboratory-cultivated) STEM Cells – many patients are now achieving progress once thought unattainable.
The trend is unmistakable:
More Strength. More Sensation. Greater Control, and a Higher Quality of Life.
Autologous means the STEM Cells are taken from your own body—most commonly from bone marrow or adipose (fat) tissue.
→ This ensures perfect compatibility with your immune system.
Expanded means these cells are then carefully multiplied and activated in the laboratory, producing millions of highly potent repair cells ready for therapeutic use.
Once administered, these stem cells can:
Reduce Harmful Inflammation
Protect Vulnerable Nerve Cells
Support Regeneration Within the Spinal Cord
Favorably Influence Scar Tissue
Encourage the Formation of New Neural Connections
In essence, they work to reawaken the spinal cord’s intrinsic self-healing capacity, creating the biological conditions needed for recovery.
The scientific evidence accumulated in recent years is highly compelling. Across the globe, Phase I and Phase II clinical trials consistently report measurable functional improvements – in many cases including AIS grade upgrades, indicating a real improvement in the level of paralysis.
1) Expanded MSCs – Modern High-Dose Regeneration
Studies such as Awidi et al. 2024 show that administering large amounts of expanded stem cells – either directly at the lesion site or intrathecally – leads to clear neurological improvements:
Additional work, such as that by Vaquero et al., demonstrates that repeated intrathecal MSC injections (e.g., three times 100 million cells) produce especially strong effects.
Newer analyses confirm this on a broad scale:
STEM Cell Therapy leads to improvement of at least one ASIA grade in nearly half of all treated patients.
(Meta-analysis, Shang et al., BMC Medicine 2022)
2) Autologous Expanded Adipose-Derived Stem Cells – the CELLTOP Studies (Mayo Clinic, USA)
The renowned CELLTOP program, led by Bydon et al. (2020–2024), is considered a milestone.
Key features:
The highlight:
In the most recent analysis (Nature Communications, 2024), 7 out of 10 patients improved their AIS classification – a true neurological advancement.
This confirms:
Autologous expanded stem cells can sustainably regenerate the spinal cord.
3) Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cells (BMSC)
In landmark studies such as Satti et al. (2016, Cytotherapy), patients receiving their own bone marrow stem cells demonstrated:
These findings have been replicated repeatedly in numerous publications, showing:
This form of therapy clearly activates spinal cord repair.
(References: Satti et al. 2016; Schumacher et al. 2020; Liu et al. 2025)
These insights are transforming the lives of many people with spinal cord injuries.
Key benefits:
The strength in arms and legs begins to return.
Touch, temperature, and pain perception improve.
Many patients report significantly more control.
More independence, fewer complications, greater mobility.
For the first time in medical history, the spinal cord is not only stabilized –
it is actively regenerated.
Today’s STEM Cell medicine has expanded the boundaries of what is possible.
What was once considered irreversible is now being re-evaluated worldwide.
Autologous and expanded stem cells open a new era of regeneration:
Autologous mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation for spinal cord injury: a Phase I pilot study
Satti HS et al. (2016), Cytotherapy, 18:518–522.
Abstract – summary:
This pilot study demonstrated that autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) can be safely administered via intrathecal injection in chronic SCI patients. No serious adverse events occurred, confirming the procedure is feasible.
Link / PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26971680/
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2016.01.004
Intrathecal delivery of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in traumatic spinal cord injury: Phase I trial
Bydon M et al. (2024), Nature Communications, 15:2201.
Abstract – summary:
This Phase-I trial (NCT03308565) included 10 patients with traumatic SCI (AIS A or B). Autologous culture-expanded AD-MSCs were injected intrathecally. Treatment was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events. Several participants demonstrated neurological improvements.
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38561341/
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46259-y
Intrathecal administration of autologous mesenchymal stromal cells for spinal cord injury: Safety and efficacy of the 100/3 guideline
Vaquero J et al. (2018), Cytotherapy, 20:806–819.
Abstract – summary:
Patients with chronic SCI received three intrathecal injections of 100 × 10⁶ MSCs (“100/3 protocol”). Improvements were observed in sphincter function, sensation, and neuropathic symptoms. Therapy was safe and well tolerated.
Clinical translation of STEM Cell Therapy for spinal cord injury: a meta-analysis
Shang Z et al. (2022), BMC Medicine.
Abstract – summary:
This meta-analysis pooled 62 studies comprising 2,439 SCI patients. Approximately 48.9% improved by at least one ASIA grade following stem cell therapy. Significant improvements in bladder (42.1%) and bowel (52.0%) function were also observed.
Link / DOI: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12916-022-02482-2
STEM Cell Vienna delivers cutting-edge regenerative treatments with a guaranteed standard of excellence. We provide priority access to accredited clinics, tailored treatment plans, and financial support programs.
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