Development of a wireless device to promote the regeneration of damaged tissue after spinal cord injury

Nuno Silva

  • PROJECT LEADER

    Nuno Silva

  • HOST ORGANIZATION,
    COUNTRY

    Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Braga, Portugal

  • DESCRIPTION

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that there are between 40 and 80 cases of spinal cord injury per million people every year. Although the survival rate of these people has greatly increased in recent decades, this type of injury continues to cause neurological disorders with an enormous impact on patients' lives.

    While various treatments manage to recover part of the neuronal functions, relying on an intrinsic property of the central nervous system known as neuroplasticity, currently none of them are able to completely repair the damaged areas.

    In this project, researchers will develop a novel device and a therapy, which will combine electrical stimulation of affected areas with tissue sensing and localised drug delivery. The idea is that this combination can modulate harmful processes, such as persistent inflammation, and promote neuronal regeneration.

  • PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

    • Alar Ainla, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Braga, Portugal

  • PROJECT TITLE

    Wireless Neural Guidance Device for Spinal Cord Injury Repair

  • BUDGET

    993,872.59 €