Researchers from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital will be the first to see how stem cells can be used to help repair traumatic brain injury. Beginning 2006, the study will recruit 10 patients aged 5 to 14 who have sustained a brain injury due to car accident or other type of accident. As a Phase I trial, its main focus is to confirm that the procedure itself is safe, and to determine all risk factors. If successful, it will pave the way for more research and bigger clinical trials.

But this new treatment may be able to help reverse injury and get the brain to heal itself, which it rarely if ever does on its own.

The procedure in the clinical trial is fairly simple. After explaining the operation to the parents of the child and securing permission, doctors will remove stem cells from the bone marrow of the patient’s hip. These will be processed into two types of cells, one that develops into blood cells, and one that can develop into neurons or brain cells. This is the most crucial step and is still theoretical from a clinical point of view – the body normally does not replace damaged or destroyed brain cells on its own.

Once the two types of cells are developed, they will be injected back into the child. The whole process must be completed within 48 hours of the injury. The child will then be tested at one month and six months to find out how his or her brain function compares with historical data on similar injuries. Researchers expect – or at least hope – that patients will have more brain function than average.

The possibilities that this study will open up cannot be understated. Even small improvements in brain function would have a huge impact on patients and their families. “It could be the difference between being able to recognize your loved ones and not being able to, or between doing things for yourself or having to rely on others,” Cox said.

This research could also help investigations into treatment procedures for other brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, and medical conditions that lead to degeneration or injury to brain cells.

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in a car accident or some other act of negligence on the part of others, contact Jim S. Adler & Associates to find out your legal rights. We will give you a free case review, and help you understand exactly what type of compensation you can expect. Don’t let the financial stress of piling medical bills and loss of work add to your worries. At Jim S. Adler & Associates, we can help. Contact us directly, or click on the link on this page for a free case review.