Details of the implant and how it performs in lab experiments have been published in the journal Materials Today.

“To date, it has been extremely difficult to promote the regrowth of neurons after spinal cord injury, which is a major obstacle in the development of successful treatments for such debilitating injuries,” explains Professor Fergal O’Brien, Deputy Vice Chancelllor for Research and Innovation and Professor of Bioengineering and Regenerative Medicine at RCSI and Head of RCSI’s Tissue Engineering Research Group (TERG).

“Our research here represents a promising new approach which may have potential for the treatment of spinal cord injuries.”