3D-Printed Scaffolding

3D-printed implants for scaffolding to repair spinal cord injuries.  It sounds a bit like science fiction when you hear that this technology can be printed in minutes, but scientists are doing it. 

Adam Gorlitsky Update

Adam Gorlitsky has made the news before for his long walks with a ReWalk exoskeleton.  It's nice to see that he's still going, and planning on completing the Los Angeles Marathon later this month. 

Ongoing Recovery of Robert Wickens

This is just a really nice article to see about the ongoing recovery of Robert Wickens, injured six months ago. 

iPS cell trial

A big topic in the news this week: Japan has approved trial stem cell therapy/ treatments for humans with spinal cord injuries.  The cells are "induced pluripotents" stem (iPS) cells.  A Nature.com article explains that "IPS cells are created by inducing cells from body tissue to revert to an embryonic-like state, from which they can develop into other cell types" (David Cyranoski, "'Reprogrammed' stem cells to treat spinal-cord injuries for the first time").  This means that your own cells are used in the procedure.  Researchers from Keio University will conduct the trial with four people who have recent spinal cord injuries. 
This is the first clinical trial of its kind for spinal cord injuries (not for iPS cells).  One worth watching!