A group of researchers based in Philadelphia is planning a novel -- and controversial -- trial of stem cells: to reverse brain death, according to a report in .
The treatment will involve injecting stem cells into the spinal cord of individuals who have been declared brain dead, followed by injections of a peptide formula into the spine to encourage the growth of new neurons, and then 15 days of nerve stimulation and laser therapy to spur neuron connectivity.
The trial initially was planned to take place in India until it was shut down by regulators, and now is slated for Latin America. Critics claim the trial "borders on quackery" and "has no scientific foundation," although one small previous study found that stroke patients gained some mobility after stem cell injections into the brain.