A Phase I trial: olfactory ensheathing cell nerve bridge transplantation for treating chronic spinal cord injury
Speaker: Professor James St John
Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics
Griffith University
A Phase I trial: olfactory ensheathing cell nerve bridge transplantation for treating chronic spinal cord injury.
Abstract: The Spinal Injury Project at Griffith University is conducting a Phase I blinded and randomised controlled trial to test a cellular nerve bridge transplantation and rehabilitation therapy for repairing acquired spinal cord injury. This seminar will discuss the nerve bridge technology, clinical trial design process, cell manufacturing challenges and the future directions of the therapy. Using an innovative technology, OECs are formulated into stable three-dimensional bridge-like structures which are implanted into the injury site. This permissive bridge facilitates neural repair which is reinforced with rehabilitation. To advance the therapy towards clinical trial, a community co-design approach was used to plan the trial, ensure acceptability, maximise community engagement and awareness, and secure funding. The co-design process introduced key innovations in the trial design: (1) inclusion of diverse injury types, impairment levels (C5 to low thoracic), and time after injury to identify responders, (2) a 40% female recruitment target to detect female responders, (3) a 3-month intensive prehabilitation program to prime the body before transplantation, and 8-month intensive post-transplantation program to maximise neuroplasticity, (4) appropriate reimbursement for trial participation. For cell manufacturing, a major translational challenge is managing the intense cell purification and amplification process which takes many weeks, requiring considerable GMP production considerations. For the future, the potential power of the cellular nerve bridges warrant consideration for expanding their therapeutic use to other conditions of the nervous system including peripheral nerve injury and traumatic brain injury.
About Neuroscience Seminars
Neuroscience seminars at the QBI play a major role in the advancement of neuroscience in the Asia-Pacific region. The primary goal of these seminars is to promote excellence in neuroscience through the exchange of ideas, establishing new collaborations and augmenting partnerships already in place.
Seminars in the QBI Auditorium on Level 7 are held on Wednesdays at 12-1pm, which are sometimes simulcast on Zoom (with approval from the speaker). We also occassionally hold seminars from international speakers via Zoom. The days and times of these seminars will vary depending on the time zone of the speaker. Please see each seminar listed below for details.
