DCGI go-ahead for stem cell trials

The Indian Spinal Injuries Centre has got a go-ahead from the government to carry human trials using bone marrow transplantation in patients suffering from acute spinal cord injury.

The Indian Spinal Injuries Centre has got a go-ahead from the government to carry human trials using bone marrow transplantation in patients suffering from acute spinal cord injury.

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"We have received the nod of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to carry out phase II trials using autologous bone marrow transplant in acute spinal cord injury patients," said Dr HS Chabbra, chief of spine surgeries and medical director at ISIC.

Stem cells are taken from the patient and harvested outside the body and then infused into the spinal cord. The patient gets his stem cells back.

"We will carry out the study on 30 patients, who have been divided into three groups," he said.

For the first group, researchers will inject the cells harvested from the bone marrow in the fluid around the spine, in the second, they will inject the cells into the spine and third will be the control group.