Stem Cell Therapy For Traumatic Brain Injury

Pacific Neuroscience Institute® and Providence Saint John’s Health Center were key participants in a research study showing remarkable improvements for patients who were administered stem cells directly into the site of their traumatic brain injury.

A breakthrough for traumatic brain injury

A nasty fall, a sports injury, a traffic accident, an assault.

All can result in traumatic brain injury, a leading cause of death and disability. For the fortunate ones who survive TBI, recovery can present tremendous challenges.

Now a potential treatment is revealed in a recently published study. In the October 8, 2024 issue of the journal Neurology results show remarkable improvements among TBI patients who had stem cells implanted in their brains. Pacific Neuroscience Institute and Providence Saint John’s Health Center neurologist Santosh Kesari, MD, PhD, contributed to the study.

“This is the first paper to show a positive effect of stem cells in traumatic brain injury,” Dr. Kesari said. “The treatment is now conditionally approved in Japan based on this study, and Pacific Neuroscience Institute/Providence Saint John’s enrolled a significant number of patients.”

Surgical implantation of stem cells for traumatic brain injury

TBI can change the way you move, feel, act and think. Symptoms can range from mild confusion and headaches to seizures and losing consciousness for an extended period

The randomized study found the procedure to be safe and well tolerated in patients who had suffered chronic motor deficits due to traumatic brain injury. Sixty-one adults underwent the stem cell treatment, 43 men and 18 women, average age 34.

Significant sustained improvement in motor status occurred after 24 weeks and continued improvement, though not as great, was recorded after 48 weeks. The goal as the research continues is to improve these patients’ quality of life.

“This is a very promising study for patients with severe traumatic brain injury who are disabled,” said PNI neurosurgeon Adi Iyer, MD, who cares for trauma patients at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. “They may have the potential for delayed recovery after the safe and effective implantation of stem cells, directly into the brain.”

Current status of care for traumatic brain injury

Inflammation in the brain caused by injuries causes severe, life-threatening consequences.  Currently, there is no current therapy that addresses the injury, leading to long-term chronic inflammation and debilitating symptoms.

About Dr. Santosh Kesari

Santosh Kesari, MD, PhD, is Director of Neuro-oncology at Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Providence Saint John’s Health Center and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance, and leads the Pacific Neuroscience Research Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute. He is Chair and Professor, Department of Translational Neurosciences, Saint John’s Cancer Institute and was named regional medical director of Providence Southern California’s Research Clinical Institute in April 2021. As a world-renowned neuro-oncologist and neurologist, Dr. Kesari’s focus is on the molecular and genetic cause of cancer and other severe diseases and its treatment using precision medicine techniques.

About Dr. Adi Iyer

Adi Iyer MD, MS, is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon with a focus on vascular diseases of the brain and spine at Pacific Neuroscience Institute. As one of California’s few dual-trained neurosurgeons, Dr. Iyer is able to offer both minimally invasive open surgical techniques as well as incisionless catheter-based procedures to treat patients with strokes, aneurysms, AVMs, tumors and pain. He brings leading-edge technology and minimally invasive approaches to help his patients treating them with a philosophy of respect and compassion.

Useful Links

• Brain Health Center
• Stroke & Neurovascular Center
• Clinical Trials
• Providence Saint John’s Health Center