Israeli Biotech and Rehabilitation Center Seek Paralyzed Patient for Groundbreaking Spinal Cord Implant Surgery

Israeli biotech company Matriself and Loewenstein Rehabilitation Medical Center are preparing to identify the first paralyzed patient for a pioneering spinal cord implant surgery expected in early 2027. The procedure involves implanting a biologically engineered spinal cord segment created from the patient’s own cells and tissues, designed to replace damaged spinal tissue and potentially restore the ability to walk.

This personalized neural implant technology was developed at Tel Aviv University’s Segol Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, led by Professor Tal Dvir, who also serves as Matriself’s chief scientist. Using the patient’s own biological material aims to minimize transplant rejection and improve integration. Professor Dvir emphasized the significance of moving toward human clinical trials after extensive laboratory and animal model research.

Loewenstein Rehabilitation Medical Center will manage the clinical aspects, including patient selection, evaluation, and ongoing care. Dr. Dian Michaeli, deputy head of the Orenshtein Spine Rehabilitation Department at Loewenstein, highlighted the center’s expertise in treating complex spinal injuries and its role in identifying suitable candidates for the trial. She noted that the collaboration merges clinical rehabilitation experience with cutting-edge regenerative medicine technology, offering hope for new treatment options for people living with paralysis due to spinal cord injuries.

If all regulatory and scientific milestones are met, the surgery could mark a major advancement in spinal injury treatment, potentially changing the lives of many patients with paralysis.