Reversing the Irreversible

3D-Printed Scaffold Restores Spinal Cord Function in Rats

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a 3D-printed scaffold seeded with stem cell–derived neural progenitors that successfully restored movement in rats with severed spinal cords. The scaffold’s microscopic channels guided stem cells to grow into functioning neurons, bridging damaged areas and re-establishing connections with the host’s nervous system. This breakthrough marks a promising step toward regenerative treatments for spinal cord injuries that currently have no cure. University of Minnesota researchers used a 3D-printed scaffold seeded with stem-cell–derived neural progenitors to regrow spinal cord connections, enabling paralyzed rats to walk again and paving the way for future therapies in humans.

Laser-Free Vision Correction Reshapes Eyes with Electricity

Researchers from Occidental College and UC Irvine have unveiled a non-invasive technique called electromechanical reshaping (EMR) that uses a mild electrical current and a temporary pH shift to soften and mold the cornea without cutting or lasers. In early tests on rabbit eyes, EMR successfully reversed nearsightedness by reshaping the cornea in under a minute, leaving no structural damage behind. While still in early stages, this approach could one day replace LASIK, offering a faster, cheaper, and less invasive solution for vision correction.A non-invasive technique, electromechanical reshaping (EMS), uses a mild electrical current and a temporary pH shift to soften and mold the cornea without cutting or lasers. In early tests on rabbit eyes, EMS successfully reversed nearsightedness by reshaping the cornea in under a minute, offering a potential alternative to LASIK.

Blocking FTL1 Protein Reverses Brain Aging in Mice

UC San Francisco researchers have identified a single protein, FTL1, that drives age-related decline in the hippocampus, the brain’s memory hub. Older mice with higher FTL1 levels showed fewer neural connections and impaired cognition, while boosting FTL1 in young mice prematurely aged their brains. Crucially, lowering FTL1 in old mice restored synaptic connections and memory, effectively reversing brain aging. The team also found that stimulating metabolism countered FTL1’s effects, pointing toward future therapies that

could protect learning and memory in aging humans.Scientists reversed age-related memory loss in mice by reducing FTL1, a protein that disrupts neural connections in the hippocampus. The team also found that stimulating metabolism countered FTL1’s effects, pointing toward future therapies that could protect learning and memory in aging humans.

From spinal cord repair to laser-free vision correction and brain-rejuvenating protein blockers, scientists are pioneering therapies that restore function once thought permanently lost.