Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2026, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (9): 4269-4270.doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-25-01817

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Optogenetic innovations in stem cell therapy: Illuminating the path for transplanted cells after spinal cord injury

María del Mar Sánchez-Martín*, Victoria Moreno-Manzano, Esther Giraldo   

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA (Sánchez-Martín MDM)
    Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Prince Felipe Research Center (CIPF), Valencia, Spain (Moreno-Manzano V)
    Department of Biotechnology, within the Interuniversity Research Institute for Molecular Recognition and Technology Development (idm UPV-UV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain (Moreno-Manzano V, Giraldo E)
  • Online:2026-09-15 Published:2026-05-14
  • Contact: María del Mar Sánchez-Martín, PhD, mmsanchz@stanford.edu.
  • Supported by:
    The work is supported by the projects PID2021-1243590B-I100 and PID2024-159513OB-I00 (to VMM) from the Agencia Española de Investigación, MICIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, EU, “Una manera de hacer Europa” and CIPROM/2022/25 (to VMM) from Generalitat Valenciana (to VMM).

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Abstract: Unleashing the regenerative capacity of the central nervous system following spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a challenging frontier in the field. Despite extensive efforts, the complex pathophysiology of SCI, characterized not only by the immediate damage of the primary injury but also by the subsequent cascades of events over time, presents significant obstacles to meaningful functional recovery. These processes vary significantly among SCI patients, further hindering the effectiveness of existing therapeutic interventions. The incidence of SCI varies worldwide, with approximately 25 new cases per million individuals annually, leading to long-lasting physical, psychological, and social consequences.