The Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine at the Paracelsus Medical University focuses on neurological diseases and aspects of brain regeneration. At the SCI and Tissue Regeneration Center this topic is being addressed in more depth, and the already-identified therapeutic approaches are being transferred to spinal cord diseases and injuries in close cooperation with the Institute of Experimental Neuroregeneration. Paraplegia exhibits a clinical picture which in many ways resembles brain diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer's, and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases. 

The newly acquired findings on "tissue regeneration" are not only of importance for healing paraplegia, but may also be decisive for other brain and central nervous system diseases. This is possible because tissue regeneration always follows the same rules and operates via the same mechanisms. Nearly every organ and tissue in the human body is capable of regenerating, i.e., of healing. There are often central key molecules that promote, or even inhibit, regeneration.

These molecular and cellular keys are being identified at the Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine and will ultimately lead to the regeneration of the central nervous system (i.e., the brain and spinal cord) in the event of neurodegenerative diseases or after acute injuries. 

The focus here is on the regenerative potential of both endogenous and transplanted stem cells. We are also looking at pharmacological approaches for enhancing the environment of the tissue to be regenerated. To this end, the Institute is developing a suitable product range jointly with the Institute of Experimental Neuroregeneration at the Paracelsus Medical University.