Research Links

By Matthew Zegarek, January 17, 2007 (The Daily Targum, Rutgers University)- University researchers led by Professor Bonnie Firestein may have found a treatment for spinal cord injuries by using uric acid.

Firestein, an associate professor of cell biology and neuroscience, and her team have published their findings in the early online copy of the research journal Glia.

Humans produce only small quantities of uric acid naturally, but past research indicated the human body is very sensitive to uric acid blood concentration...

January 7, 2007 (PressZoom.com)- Scientists have discovered a new source of stems cells and have used them to create muscle, bone, fat, blood vessel, nerve and liver cells in the laboratory. The first report showing the isolation of broad potential stem cells from the amniotic fluid that surrounds developing embryos was published today in Nature Biotechnology...

January 31, 2007 (ABC)- LISA MILLAR: Since its creation in 1978, the cochlear implant has brought hearing to tens of thousands of people around the world. Now its creator is offering new hope to paraplegics.

Professor Graeme Clark says another implant to repair spinal damage could be available within five years.

He's reluctant to call it a breakthrough, but Professor Clark says he's made a significant step ahead in his research, which uses so-called "smart plastics" to regenerate nerve cells.

January 24, 2007 (ScienceDaily)- Two scientists from the University of Copenhagen have demonstrated that the spinal cord use network mechanisms similar to those used in the brain. The discovery is featured in the current issue of Science.
The researchers report that spinal neurons, during network activity underlying movements, show the similar irregular firing patterns as seen in the cerebral cortex...