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Spinal Cord one month after injury with treatment

Spinal cord one month after injury without treatment
ENCOURAGING RESULTS FROM RECENT
RESEARCH AT QUT

Important research at QUT has focused on treating injured spinal cords by administering specific proteins directly to the injured site using an implanted miniature osmatic pump.

This approach has
never been tried before.

This treatment averts the typical devastating loss of tissue and associated scarring. Essentially this treatment halts the progression from an injury into a chronically inflamed state thus preventing additional tissue loss and scar formation.

Simultaneously, the treatment also minimises the toxicity of the site promoting new healthy nerve growth which is evident one month after treatment.

This is the vital outcome researchers have been striving to achieve.


Magnified views of treated spinal cord one month after injury showing nerve fibres traversing the injury site

The protein treatment developed by Dr. Ben Goss uniquely initiates both the process of healthy
nerve growth and reduces the size and toxicity of the injury site.
WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS RESEARCH?

This innovative approach is very different from other research in this fi eld. Most research aims to suppress particular destructive processes that occur after the injury. This unique research demonstrates that the combined delivery of particular proteins (VEGF - vascular endothelial growth factor and PDGF - platelet derived growth factor) actually stimulates these processes. Importantly, this ground-breaking research indicates that these correctly controlled processes are not as destructive as was previously thought.

Findings from this ongoing investigation were recently
published in the well respected journal,
The Journal of Neurotrauma.

The next stage of research will refi ne the procedures developed so far and will pave the way for transferring this treatment to people with spinal cord injury.

But we need your help to take this project into its next critical stage!
 
Will Young researching
spinal injury – working
towards his PhD at QUT

The special purpose
hyperbaric chamber
installed at QUT to
support spinal cord
injury healing research.
  
RESEARCH MUST CONTINUE

It is now three years since Dr. Ben Goss and his team begun testing his theory for treating injured spinal cords by administering proteins directly to the injured site.

Dr. Goss and his team have experimented with varying amounts of the delivered protein to optimise the treatment procedures. Tests have also been made using a special purpose built hyperbaric chamber.

Further work is necessary to fully develop this treatment

Will you join us in working for a cure and discovering
new treatments for people with spinal cord injury?
The Walk Again Society. Developing solutions to aid and heal people suffering spinal injury.
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