• Question: Is it possible to replace nerves if one cannot build them up again?

    Asked by ChellPortal to Andy, Duane, Giovanna, Katie, Theresia on 11 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Duane Mellor

      Duane Mellor answered on 11 Nov 2014:

      This has been recently been tested in Poland I think, where new nerves were grown from stem cells and transplanted, the man who was paralysed is starting to walk again.

    • Photo: Andrew Philp

      Andrew Philp answered on 11 Nov 2014:

      Replacement is very difficult as nerves form a network and run around, through and within tissues. As Duane mentioned there is exciting work to suggest that activating nerves that have been inactive for long periods by providing fresh cells might be able to restore function. There was a very interesting program on BBC Horizon about this study.

    • Photo: Giovanna Bermano

      Giovanna Bermano answered on 12 Nov 2014:

      Scientists are still working on it but they making very good progress as suggest by the example given by Duane….

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