Dr. Jerry Silver has proven not only that proteoglycans, a substance that prevented nerve fibers from growing, exists, but that through the use of an enzyme (chondroitinase), he could nullify the effects of proteoglycans and allow nerve fibers to grow.
Using this technique, Silver and his team at Case Western Reserve University can regenerate the nerves in the damaged spinal cord of a paralyzed rat, which allows the rat to regain its ability to breathe independently.
This app walks you through that groundbreaking research and demonstrates its value toward one day allowing people who are paralyzed to regain a vital aspect of normality in their lives.