It sounds like science fiction—but it’s real. Israeli researchers at Tel Aviv University, working through biotech company Matricelf, are on the verge of a world-first spinal cord implant that could help paraplegics walk again.

In this episode of the ILTV Podcast, host Maayan Hoffman speaks with Matricelf CEO Gil Hakim about how his team, led by Prof. Tal Dvir, is using patients’ own cells to build micro spinal cords that restore movement and sensation. Animal trials have shown remarkable success, and with approval from Israel’s Health Ministry, the first human trial may soon be underway.

Hakim shares why this could be a “real cure” for paralysis, what it means for patients worldwide, and how Israel is positioned to become a global hub for this life-changing technology.