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Two families fund nationwide trials hoping to find cure for spinal injuries

Common tragedy spurs stem cell study. Sion hospital and India Spinal Cord Injury Centre at Delhi and the Apollo group of hospitals have agreed to be part of this research.

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In January 2009, Vaibhav Jain, 25, returned to Mumbai after his graduation with plans of joining his father’s shipping and construction business. However, a dive in a shallow pool affected all his plans. With a broken neck and damaged spine, Jain has been on physiotherapy ever since.

Sachin Chamaria, 20, after appearing for his class 12 exams in 2008 was visiting his cousin in Kolkata when he broke his neck in a road accident. He too has been on intensive physiotherapy and some of the latest gadgets are at his disposal.

The Chamaria and Jain families have now got together and pooled their resources to conduct a nation-wide clinical research on the effect of umbilical cord stem cells on spine cord injury (SCI) victims. Currently, aggressive physiotherapy is the only available treatment for spinal cord injuries.

The two families want to put in the “seed” money to push-start a nationwide clinical research. They are being aided by Dr Wise Young, the world-renowned researcher who plans to replicate in India clinical trials on embryo stem cell research held in China and the US. Dr Alok Sharma, the neuro-surgery head at Sion Hospital has agreed to participate in the research.

Dr Young has already held initial meetings with the families. “The clinical trials in China, the research’s first phase has proved its safety. Phase two and three will be held in India and Norway. This is a four-country project that will also involve the US,” Dr Sharma said. The trial will include 120 people from six hospitals.
Jain’s father Atul said, “We are willing to invest in the infrastructure, networking, funding and the technical part of the research. We really hope this will help our son.”

The project is yet to be cleared by the ethical committee and Indian Council of Medical Research. Currently, Sion hospital and India Spinal Cord Injury Centre at Delhi and the Apollo group of hospitals have agreed to be part of this research. A few other big hospitals have also expressed interest, Dr Sharma said.
Jain, a willing participant in the trial, said, “Stem cell therapy is the hope for spinal cord injury victims.”

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