Can you bring a person back from the dead? A groundbreaking trial has just got ethical approval to try and do just that.
A US biotechnology company has been given permission by health watchdogs to take 20 patients who have been declared clinically dead from brain injury and try to regenerate parts of their central nervous system.
Scientists at Bioquark will treat the patients with a range of therapies including stem cell injections, nerve stimulation and laser treatments.
While the team aren't expecting any miracles just yet they do have one particular goal in mind which is to see cell regeneration in the upper spinal cord - the part of the brain which controls breathing and heart function.
Bioquark's CEO Dr Ira Pastor believes that they can effectively hit the 'reset' button on the brain's stem cells forcing them to re-start.
This is something which is actually already seen on Earth through creatures like Salamanders who are able to regenerate entire limbs.
Speaking to the Telegraph Dr Pastor said, "To undertake such a complex initiative, we are combining biologic regenerative medicine tools with other existing medical devices typically used for stimulation of the central nervous system, in patients with other severe disorders of consciousness."
The team reportedly hopes to see the first results for the trial within two to three months.
While we're still a long way from bringing an entire brain back to life Dr Pastor believes that by focusing on one specific area of the brain they can start to make meaningful steps in the right direction.
