#Israel #Tel Aviv #Spinal Cord Injury #Sheba Medical Center #Matricelf

Matricelf and Sheba Medical Center Partnership

On March 24, 2026, Matricelf Ltd. (TASE: MTLF), a leader in regenerative medicine specializing in engineered neural tissue therapies, announced a strategic collaboration with Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israel. This partnership aims to facilitate the company's initial human clinical trial focusing on spinal cord injuries, a groundbreaking step in advancing medical technology.

Sheba Medical Center, renowned globally, ranks 7th according to Newsweek, making it a prestigious venue for conducting clinical trials. This collaboration signifies Matricelf's critical movement from preclinical research to actual clinical stages, directly targeting human proof of concept for their innovative treatments.

The agreement outlines a detailed plan where Matricelf will begin manufacturing its autologous neural tissue implants at Sheba’s Advanced Biotherapy Center (ABC), ensuring adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). This facility will provide a cleanroom environment essential for developing safe and effective medical products. Concurrently, both entities are preparing for the clinical trial by establishing necessary frameworks, including infrastructure, operational protocols, and pathways for patient integration.

The clinical trial is set to leverage Sheba's advanced capabilities, boasting a fully integrated ecosystem that encompasses state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, surgical expertise, and rehabilitation services. The program will be supported by key departments specializing in spinal surgery, led by Prof. Ran Harel, and neurological rehabilitation, headed by Dr. Moshe Bondi.

This collaboration promises to enhance operational efficiency by centralizing both the production and clinical aspects within a leading institution, thus minimizing risks and expediting clinical timelines. Matricelf envisions this as a scalable model, laying the groundwork for future expansions in clinical research and the development of new treatments.

Major milestones for Matricelf have emerged recently, especially following the release of positive preliminary safety data from preclinical studies in August 2025. These results illustrated the safety profile of the company's engineered neural tissue therapies in animal models, providing a strong justification for moving forward with human clinical studies.

Dr. Alon Sinai, the founder and president of Matricelf, emphasized the importance of this transition into clinical development, stating, “Partnering with Sheba not only solidifies our commitment to advance our technology but also enhances our potential to achieve clinical outcomes within a world-class innovation ecosystem.”

Gil Hakim, the CEO of Matricelf, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that joining forces with such a globally recognized medical center significantly enhances their clinical strategy and ensures efficient development processes. This collaboration is anticipated to mitigate risks associated with early-stage clinical development while fostering an undeniably strong foundation for scaling operations in the near future.

Founded with the mission to innovate in regenerative medicine, Matricelf is dedicated to developing autologous engineered neural tissue implants for treating spinal cord injuries. Their proprietary technology enables the creation of patient-specific human tissue that could potentially address a range of neurological conditions, including traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. As Matricelf takes these steps forward, the collaboration with Sheba Medical Center not only demonstrates their commitment to innovation but also marks a significant leap toward transforming the treatment landscape for spinal cord injuries.