This project generated new cGMP compliant tissue educated human neural stem cell lines, paired with in vivo pre-clinical proof of concept testing. Few cGMP compliant hNSC lines are in existence, making the generation of new lines that could move forward to clinical trial an important contribution. In all, identification of new cell lines with in vivo efficacy testing is a step towards enabling efficient translation to chronic cervical spinal cord injury, an area of significant unmet medical need. 

In addition, this project developed a new tool that can relate in vitro expression analyses from these cells under growth and differentiation conditions to in vivo efficacy. There is a lack of ways by which to discriminate cells with biological activity from those that do not possess this activity, making this advance an important one for initiating successful clinical trials.