Tel Aviv, Aug. 20 -- Israel is preparing to perform the world's first-ever human spinal cord implant using a patient's own cells, a medical breakthrough that could allow paralysed patients to stand and walk again, Tel Aviv University announced on Wednesday.

The surgery, expected in the coming months, will take place in Israel and marks a historic milestone in regenerative medicine.

According to the World Health Organisation, over 15 million people worldwide are living with spinal cord injuries, with the majority resulting from traumatic causes such as falls, road traffic accidents, and violence.

Currently, spinal cord injuries cannot be fully cured, so treatment focuses on stabilising the patient, preventing further damage, and maximis...