An appraisal of ongoing experimental procedures in human spinal cord injury

Clinicians and scientists in the field of spinal cord injury research and medicine are poised to begin translating promising new experimental findings into treatments for people. Advances in experimental regeneration research have led to several transplantation strategies that promote axonal regrowth and partial functional recovery in animal models of injury. In this review, we summarize current knowledge regarding various invasive experimental treatments that have been or are now being applied clinically. Various questions about the timeliness, safety, and benefits of the procedures are under discussion within the spinal cord injury (SCI) research community. We also describe guidelines for carrying out optimal clinical trials and efforts to establish specific international guidelines to translate preclinical treatment strategies into clinical trials in SCI. The clinical trial process and the role that clinical professionals have in advising individuals regarding participation in experimental procedures also is discussed.