Traumatic brain injury changes lives. While research is ongoing, leading neuroscientists still struggle to understand exactly how the brain works. This knowledge is crucial in learning how to heal damaged brain tissue- or so we thought. Researchers from the California-based private firm SanBio, Inc., have developed a treatment regimen that may sidestep the need to learn those specifics by using adult bone marrow stem cells in a revolutionary way.

How it works

The treatment involves genetic modification of adult donor stem cells. The exact details are proprietary, but the finished product appears to trigger the brain’s natural ability to regenerate and rewire (a property known as plasticity) when injected into damaged neural tissue. The clinical trials focus on motor deficits: by evaluating the improvement of a physical disability resulting from brain injury, the trials will provide a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of the treatment.

Two trials are currently ongoing, with both in the second phase of clinical testing. One trial is examining the treatment of chronic motor impairment resulting from stroke. The other, which examines the treatment of motor impairment resulting from TBI, began randomized selection of patients in early July. All in all, some 52 patients are expected to participate in this phase of clinical testing.

BusinessWire reported, “Damien Bates, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research at SanBio, said, ‘This modified stem cell treatment has improved outcomes in patients with persistent limb weakness secondary to ischemic stroke – and our preclinical data suggest it may also help TBI patients. For people suffering from the often debilitating effects of TBI, this milestone brings us one step closer to proving whether it’s an effective treatment option.’”

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

For more than 5 million people in the US, traumatic brain injury is daily reality, and the hope for help of any kind is small. Any progress, no matter how slight, provides a ray of hope for TBI victims and their families. At Rocky McElhaney Law, we know the reality of TBI and support all efforts to raise awareness of this important and underserved issue.

For victims of TBI and their families, there is hope. While a cure may down the road or just around the corner, there are things that you can do after a traumatic brain injury or stroke that can help. The experienced and compassionate Nashville traumatic brain injury attorneys at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm can evaluate your circumstances and help get you the compensation you need for treatment and continuing medical care. For more information, call 615.246.5549, visit our offices in Nashville, Gallatin, or Knoxville, or contact us today.