Scientists repair spinal cord injuries using patients’ stem cells 11 In a Phase II trial, all 13 patients who received an intravenous infusion of their own mesenchymal stem cells had improvements in neurological function six months later. In a new study, investigators demonstrated the feasibility, safety and efficacy of using a single intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. According to the researchers, more than half of patients had substantial improvements in key functions, such as walking and using their hands, within weeks of the treatment. In the Phase II trial, 13 patients who had sustained non-penetrating SCI received an intravenous infusion of autologous (their own) MSCs cultured in auto-serum under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production. The participants were then observed to see if their SCI symptoms – such as loss of motor function and coordination, sensory loss and bowel and bladder dysfunction – improved from baseline. Results were not blinded and each patient served as their own control.