Cell reprogramming, biotechnology, hope for paralyzed people… Prof. Alexander Oscar, head of the eye clinic at “Alexandrovska Hospital“, speaks to FACT.
- Prof. Oscar, you are an ophthalmologist, but you also have a specialty in nervous diseases – in fact, this is your first specialty. Recently, scientists from Tel Aviv University (TAU) under the leadership of Prof. Tal Dvir, together with the biotechnology company Matricelf, developed the world's first three-dimensional, laboratory-grown spinal cord, created from the patient's own cells. What do you think about this?
- As a doctor who initially dedicated himself to neurology and later to ophthalmology, I can say that this is an event of enormous scientific and humanitarian significance. I admire that it is Israeli scientists who are pioneers in this breakthrough – a country that is an example of innovation and courage in medicine. This development shows that with science, perseverance and vision we can achieve things that until recently seemed unthinkable – such as an artificial spinal cord created from the patient's own cells.
The spinal cord is one of the most complex structures in the human body, and its damage often leads to irreversible consequences. The fact that Israeli scientists managed to grow a three-dimensional spinal cord from the patient's own cells is not just a scientific achievement – this is a real opportunity to change the approach to some of the most serious diseases and injuries.
- This is real hope for a change in the fate of people living with paralysis. Is this a revolution in medicine?
– Yes, you can definitely say that this is a revolution. For decades, neurology viewed complete paralysis as an irreversible condition, and patients were bedridden. Rehabilitation and assistive devices could improve the patient's life, but not restore lost functions. Now we see that through biotechnology that uses the patient's own cells, we can get closer to true recovery. This is something that will change not only medicine, but also our overall understanding of the limits of the human body.
– It simply gives hope for people with spinal cord injuries to walk again. Hope – this is more than anything for people with these problems, right?
– Absolutely. When a person hears the diagnosis “paralysis“, it's like having a door slammed in your face. You don't just lose movement, you lose your independence, your self-esteem, your sense of control over your life.
I've seen this psychological burden in many patients as a neurologist.
That's why the very fact that science now offers a real prospect for recovery is incredibly important. This hope is a powerful incentive for the patient himself to continue the fight, not to give up, to believe that one day he will walk again.
– What is the technology based on?
– It's a bioengineering platform that uses stem cells. Scientists take cells from the patient's own fat tissue and reprogram them into so-called induced pluripotent stem cells. From them, nerve cells and supporting tissues are “grown” in laboratory conditions, and all this is arranged in a three-dimensional structure that resembles a spinal cord. The most important thing is that the material is 100% biocompatible, because it comes from the patient himself, and the risk of rejection of the implant is minimal. This is a fundamentally new approach in regenerative medicine.
– If I understand correctly, it is about reprogramming cells. And this already opens up a very large field for fighting various diseases?
– Yes, that's right. Reprogramming cells is one of the biggest breakthroughs in modern medicine. Thanks to it, we can turn a mature cell – for example, from the skin – back into a stem cell, which can then differentiate into whatever tissue is needed: nerve, heart, bone. This means that in the future we will be able to restore damaged organs, treat diseases such as Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, degenerative retinal diseases. This is a huge field that is still developing.
– At what stage is the development? When can we expect application in humans?
– The scientific team has already undergone the first successful preclinical tests on animals.
Mice with severe spinal injuries that were completely paralyzed managed to regain their ability to walk after transplantation of the artificial spinal cord.
This is truly impressive. The first clinical trials in humans are currently being prepared, which are expected to begin in the next few years. Of course, before the technology reaches mass use, it must be proven to be completely safe and effective in the long term. But the direction is very encouraging.
– What experiments have been conducted so far and what is the effect?
– Preclinical experiments have been conducted mainly on mouse models. In animals that were paralyzed due to severe spinal cord injuries, after transplantation of the 3D-grown spinal implant, partial, and in some cases almost complete recovery of motor functions was observed. This shows that the new tissue manages to integrate with the nervous system and restore the interrupted connections. Of course, it remains to be seen whether this success will be repeated in humans, but the results are promising. This gives us reason to believe that in the near future we may have a real tool for treating some of the most severe disabilities.
What is news from a laboratory in Israel today may be an accessible therapy for our patients in a few years. It is important not to lose hope - because it is what gives us the strength to move forward, and new scientific discoveries prove that miracles are possible.