Current Neurobiology 2010; 1 (1): 58-68

Introduction Injuries or pathological lesions to the central nervous system (CNS) can have a devastating impact on an individual including physical, emotional and social health [1,2]. The brain and spinal cord, which make up the CNS, are the overall controlling centres for all behaviours and movements [3,4]. For example, spinal cord injury is considered to be one of the major causes leading to a loss of mobility. Damage to the spinal cord often results in permanent disability or loss of movement (paralysis) and sensation below the site of the injury [5]. Lesions within the brain can affect various aspects of behaviour depending on the exact location of the damage. With our current state of knowledge there is little or no prospect of recovery from such injuries or pathological lesions. However, recent scientific advances hold out the possibility that this situation may change in the future with a real prospect of repair of the injured central nervous system. Here we review some of these advances and highlight some of the problems that still need to be solved before such repair is going to become a reality.