Traumatic Brain Injuries May be Cured by Injectable Gel

Gel Encourages Growth of Brain Tissue

Bio engineers at Clemson University have created a gel made up of both synthetic and natural materials that they say has the ability to help brain tissues grow at the site of a traumatic brain injury.

Ning Zhang presented her findings on September 2, 2009 at the Military Research Forum, a conference focused on improving the health of members of the armed forces.

Zhang said that:

“These results that we are seeing in adult lab rats are the first of its kind and show a sustained functional recovery in the animal model of TBI (traumatic brain injury). It also represents one of very few in the traumatic brain injury field that attempts structural repair of the lesion cavity using a tissue-engineering approach”

Zhang predicts that the procedure may be ready for human testing in about 3 years.

Previous attempts to treat traumatic brain injury have been focused on using hypothermia or drugs and have met with limited success. In this procedure the gel is injected at the site of the brain injury in order to encourage stem cells in the brain to regenerate normal brain tissue.

It is a long way from rats to humans, but this research offers hope to persons who have suffered a traumatic brain injury.

You can read more about the study here.

If you or a family member have suffered an injury which you think may have resulted in a mild traumatic brain injury and you are looking for a Nova Scotia brain injury lawyer you can contact me through this blog or by calling toll free 1 (877) 423-2050 for a free copy of my book: The Survivor’s Guide to Traumatic Brain Injury Claims.