The 21-year-old who suffered a cervical spine injury in March gains significant improvement in his motor function at Keck Hospital of USC after a team of doctors injected an experimental dose of 10 million AST-OPC1 cells directly into patient’s cervical spinal cord in early April 2016.

Two weeks after surgery, Boesen began to show signs of improvement. Three months later, he’s able to feed himself, use his cellphone, write his name, operate a motorized wheelchair and hug his friends and family. Improved sensation and movement in both arms and hands also makes it easier for him to care for himself, and to envision a life lived more independently.

This procedure is now in Phase 1/2a clinical trial, laying the ground work for wide use for thousands of patients.

More at USC site: https://news.usc.edu/107047/experimental-stem-cell-therapy-helps-paralyzed-man-regains-use-of-arms-and-hands/