Stéphane Woerly, Co-Founder & President, NeuroBioMat

In the intricate web of our nervous system lies a critical pathway that connects our brain to the rest of our body: the spinal cord. However, when this crucial conduit is damaged, the consequences reverberate deeply, resulting in motor and sensory disabilities that can irreversibly alter lives. Spinal cord traumas, often arising from accidents or injuries, bring about both the loss of tissue volume and the disruption of essential axonal tracts responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body. This interruption often results in severe motor disabilities, affecting movement and coordination, as well as sensory disabilities, hampering the ability to perceive touch, pain, and temperature. Sadly, the natural healing process falls short due to the limited compensatory plasticity of the neural tissue. Thus, the body’s innate ability to bounce back from such injuries is hindered, leaving patients grappling with the repercussions. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability, with a significant portion attributed to motor and sensory impairments. Moreover, around 17,700 new SCIs occur annually in the United States alone; with the majority affecting young adults aged 16 to 30.

Thus, realizing the immense need for innovative solutions to alleviate such suffering and improve the quality of life for those living with these disabilities, Stéphane Woerly, a visionary leader with a deep understanding of neuroscience and a passion for biomaterials came to the forefront.  After earning his medical degree from the University of Strasbourg in France, Stéphane headed to Ottawa, Canada, where he pursued a Ph.D. program in Neuroscience at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, with a specialization in experimental neurosurgery. It was there that he became captivated by the immense potential of macromolecular chemistry in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. This fascination led him to explore the development of artificial extracellular matrices as the groundwork for organ repair, believing that biomaterials science could revolutionize neurosurgery. Driven by this vision, Stéphane delved into the realm of polymer-based biomaterials, viewing them as a promising therapeutic strategy for repairing spinal cord injuries.

His journey took a significant turn when he crossed paths with polymer chemists at the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry in Prague, where he gained insight into the design of hydrogels for tissue engineering. Fuelled by this newfound knowledge, Stéphane came back to Canada and founded Organogel in Quebec in 1995, winning the prestigious Laval Entrepreneurship Prize. Organogel’s mission was clear: to transform Stéphane’s research breakthroughs into practical medical solutions for the healthcare industry. Thus, in 1996, NeuroGel was developed, the first synthetic polymer-based hydrogel aimed at reversing spinal cord damage.

A Journey of Resilience and Innovation

Life’s journey is seldom a straight path, and Stéphane’s story is no exception. In 2003, Organogel had to cease its activities due to a lack of funding to continue the clinical development of its product, NeuroGel. Thus, returning to his roots in France, Stéphane took on the role of director at CNRS. Yet, his passion for transformative medical solutions never waned. In 2017, he co-founded NeuroBioMat (NBM), driven by a mission to redeploy Organogel’s project to its previous technical prowess, bolstered by a fresh patent filed with the National Institute of Industrial Property. Subsequently, NBM developed SPINEREP, a 2.0 version of NeuroGel, providing a substantial improvement in terms of functionalization of the polymer device. The breakthrough didn’t go unnoticed. In 2022, SPINEREP earned the coveted “Breakthrough Device Designation” from the US FDA, propelling NBM into the FDA’s Total Product Life Cycle Advisory Program. However, for Stéphane, the journey isn’t solely about patents and accolades; it’s about making a tangible difference in the lives of those grappling with spinal cord injuries. Stéphane emphasizes, “NBM was driven by the enormous impact that this groundbreaking technology could have on patients’ lives and this mission aligns well with my commitment to improving the lives of people living with spinal cord injuries, by offering a solution to treat chronic spinal cord injury and promote functional recovery,” asserts Stéphane.

Turning Setbacks into Stepping Stones

Navigating the aftermath of Organogel’s closure was no easy feat for Stéphane. Starting afresh after such a setback called for immense resilience. Yet, amidst the tumult, he gleaned invaluable insights, recognizing that setbacks often lay the groundwork for success. “I can say, according to my experience, that failure, which can be experienced as a traumatic event, gives us the opportunity to bounce back and an opportunity to learn what can lead to success, keeping moving towards our vision,” adds Stéphane. 

Despite the obstacles, Stéphane remained resolute in his belief in the transformative potential of the polymer-based scaffold technology developed at Organogel. He saw it as a promising avenue to promote neuro-regeneration, including neurodegenerative diseases. On the other hand, he continued to believe in the viability of this project on a technical, scientific, and medical level because the developments carried out with Organogel over the past years had achieved a very advanced level of maturity with preclinical and regulatory milestones reached. This conviction led NBM to develop an enhanced version of the NeuroGel prototype, originally intended for spinal cord repair but now poised for broader clinical applications in tissue engineering down the road.

A Breakthrough Approach for Reversing Spinal Cord Injuries 

At the heart of NeuroBioMat’s innovation lies its hydrogel-based formulation—a pioneering approach to treating spinal cord injuries. Currently, there are no approved, proven treatments for spinal cord injuries. The existing palliative treatment is limited to managing symptoms through anti-inflammatory drugs, stabilizing the spinal cord, and intense rehabilitation to help maintain strength. However, these approaches fall short of addressing the root cause of the injury, leaving patients with limited options for recovery. This is where NeuroBioMat’s hydrogel-based solution steps in. Unlike conventional methods that merely manage symptoms, NBM’s approach aims to fundamentally reverse spinal cord damage. Their approach is grounded in the concept that polymeric hydrogel with the right tissue-building properties would be able to regenerate tissue damage. Take, for instance, NBM’s flagship product, SPINEREP, a polymer hydrogel meticulously engineered to reverse the damage inflicted by spinal cord injuries. With its interconnected microporous structure, SPINEREP effectively mobilizes and recruits endogenous neural tissue cells, promoting tissue regeneration and nerve fiber regrowth in the damaged area. “This technology allows us to rebuild the missing nerve connection in the injured spinal cord and thus restore the circulation of nerve impulses to the spinal cord. I would like to stress that SPINEREP is intended to be used in conjunction with standard of care rehabilitation protocols,” elucidates Stéphane.

While the tangible impact of the SPINEREP device on patients is yet to be quantified through clinical trials, its reception among neurosurgeons speaks volumes about its potential to revolutionize treatment for spinal cord injuries. 

Leading With a Vision and Values at the Core

Stéphane always strives to be an inspiring leader who prioritizes a patient-centered approach that aligns with the company’s vision and actions. As a leader, he focuses on fostering a clear vision for NBM with the collaborators and creating enthusiasm to propel the company toward its objectives. He believes in establishing a sense of direction and implementing a logistics strategy to facilitate open communication among partners. Alongside vision and strategy, determination and perseverance form the bedrock of his approach, driving him forward even in the face of adversity. Another cornerstone of his approach lies in his profound passion for innovation. He ensures that passion permeates every aspect of his leadership style, igniting motivation within his team and instilling a shared sense of purpose. “I consider these fundamental values to be decisive for the entrepreneurial success of the company. For me, they guide every decision towards long-term success on the hard path of entrepreneurship which can often be strewn with pitfalls and that is why every entrepreneur must have the ability to continue moving forward despite the pitfalls,” opines Stéphane.

Envisioning New Possibilities for the Future

Looking ahead, Stéphane envisions NeuroBioMat emerging as a frontrunner in the Neurotech realm. Through its groundbreaking technology, he aims to make a tangible difference in the lives of those grappling with spinal cord injuries. He understands that even small improvements in hand or leg motor function hold the potential to significantly enhance the quality of life for those affected. Yet, going beyond that, Stéphane aspires to see NBM advancing its technology to treat neurodegenerative disorders in combination with stem cells and bioactive molecules. Indeed, NBM has developed a technology platform whose versatility will enable a range of applications in different neurologic therapeutic areas. In particular, it will be possible to construct functionalized hydrogel matrices integrating bioactive agents focused on restoring the connectivity of damaged regions of the central nervous system.

As he reflects on his journey, Stéphane hopes his pioneering efforts at the nexus of advanced supramolecular chemistry, regenerative biology of the nervous system, and medicine will leave an enduring legacy, opening a new path in the field of neuro tissue engineering and a new discipline of restoration neurosurgery. His revolutionary initiatives which took root in 1986 and were codified in a seminal 1990 paper in Biomaterials, have laid the groundwork for a new frontier in neurotissue engineering and the burgeoning field of restoration neurosurgery.