For those living with a spinal cord injury (SCI), especially severe ones that affect breathing, the journey can feel overwhelming. High cervical injuries often lead to ventilator-dependent quadriplegia, where a person relies on a machine to breathe. But there’s exciting news from Ohio State University that could bring new possibilities for healing. In the last two months, researchers there have made a promising discovery that might help repair the spinal cord and improve life for SCI patients. Let’s break down what this breakthrough is all about.
The Ohio State team has developed a new treatment using a protein called platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB). This protein works by teaming up with cells from tiny blood vessels, known as pericytes, to create “cellular bridges.” These bridges help nerve fibers grow back across the injured area while also reducing harmful swelling. In tests with mice, the treatment was given as a single injection at the injury site, seven days after the injury—which, in human terms, would be about nine months. The results were impressive: the mice regained movement in their back legs, showing that the method could help restore some function after an SCI. You can read more in the study published on April 18, 2025, in Molecular Therapy (Ohio State University Research).
Why does this matter for someone with a high cervical SCI? Injuries in that area often disrupt the nerves that control breathing, making ventilators necessary. The PDGF-BB treatment could potentially help rebuild those nerve connections, which might improve breathing and reduce the need for a machine. While the study focused on movement in mice, the idea of repairing nerves in the spinal cord opens doors for broader applications. It’s a step toward addressing one of the biggest challenges in SCI—restoring lost functions like breathing, which could greatly improve quality of life.
This research is still in its early stages, which means it’s not ready for human use just yet. The experiments were done on mice, and the next step is to test the treatment in larger animals before moving to human trials. The timing of the injection—seven days post-injury in mice—also suggests it might be most effective if given months after the injury in humans, which could be tricky to manage. But the fact that a single injection had such a big impact is a reason to be hopeful. The study was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Ohio State’s Chronic Brain Injury Program, showing that it’s backed by serious science (Ohio State University Research).
For the SCI community, this breakthrough offers a glimmer of hope, even if it’s still a few years away from being a reality. It’s a reminder that researchers are working hard to find solutions, and every discovery brings us closer to better treatments. If you’re curious to learn more, check out the full study in Molecular Therapy or follow updates from Ohio State’s research team. For now, this advancement is a powerful step forward in the fight to help people with spinal cord injuries live fuller, more independent lives.
References:
The Spinal Frontier 
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