Regenerative Medicine By Lisa Willemse
ONTARIO
A Perfect Storm in
Regenerative Medicine Clinical trials involving stem cells are increasingly common in hospitals and institutions across Ontario, focusing on severe debilitating conditions such as spinal cord injury, heart disease and autoimmune disorders. As a result, Ontario is poised to emerge as the world leader in regenerative medicine.
In the blink of an eye, or as quickly as car accidents happen, a woman is transformed from an active individual – one who drives her kids to school and sports events, works part time and manages a busy household – to one in a wheelchair, with no use of her legs and only minimal use of her hands. Life for her and her entire family is irrevocably changed. Dr. Michael Fehlings has a vision where this change can be reversed, where such victims of spinal cord injury can regain a portion, or perhaps all of their lost function. This vision involves stem cells, which are a cornerstone of his work as a clinician-researcher at the University Health Network and play a central role in a clinical trial he is undertaking to test the safety of neural stem cells to regenerate thoracic and cervical spinal cord injuries. The first phase of the trial, sponsored by StemCells Inc., which enrolled 12 patients in Toronto, Calgary and Zurich, recently concluded and the results are now being written for publication. The second phase of the trial is anticipated to start later this year in Toronto and other, yet to be identified, centres,
30
Biotechnology Focus
June/July 2015
“It’s a significant reflection on Ontario’s vision for the future that the province recognizes the potential of regenerative medicine and is investing in the creation of a biotech environment that supports clinical translation and commercialization of research.” — Dr. Michael Fehlings and will seek to enrol participants with a cervical spinal cord injury. Dr. Fehlings and his team are excited about this second phase because of the potential impact: injuries to the cervical spine account for approximately 70 per cent of all spinal cord injuries in Canada. Such injuries often result in quadriplegia, with significant reduction in quality of life for those afflicted. “I think this could have a big impact because even small amounts of regeneration can influence one or two segments of the spinal cord and if we can achieve this, participants will regain the use of their hands, which can have a huge impact on recovery,” said Dr. Fehlings. “To put this in
context with the first study, an equivalent improvement on the thoracic spinal cord might not be detectable at all by the patient or the physician. So the impact here for the cervical spinal cord is enormous.” That this trial can take place in Ontario and possibly improve the outcomes of Ontario patients is important to Dr. Fehlings and his team. “It’s a significant reflection on Ontario’s vision for the future that the province recognizes the potential of regenerative medicine and is investing in the creation of a biotech environment that supports clinical translation and commercialization of research,” he said. The trial is one of several with connec-
