Russia has started the clinical use of a cell-based regenerative technology to treat damaged eardrums, marking a major advance in regenerative medicine and ear, nose and throat (ENT) care.
The new procedure is being carried out at the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), where doctors have begun treating patients with tympanic membrane perforations using a cell-based medicinal product developed inside the university.
The therapy uses tissue equivalents created from a patient’s own cells. Fat tissue is first taken from the patient, from which living cells are isolated and grown in the laboratory. These cells are then assembled into three-dimensional cell spheroids, which are placed onto a resorbable membrane and applied directly to the damaged eardrum.
Once implanted, the biodegradable membrane gradually dissolves while the cell spheroids stimulate the growth of new tissue. Over time, the patient’s own regenerated tissue replaces the damaged tympanic membrane, restoring its natural structure and function.
The entire procedure takes about 40 minutes, making it significantly faster and less invasive than conventional surgical methods such as tympanoplasty. Early clinical use has shown successful healing without complications.
Perforation of the eardrum is a common condition, affecting four to five people per 1,000. It is usually caused by ear infections, trauma, or sudden pressure changes. Traditional surgical repair carries a failure rate of 10 to 20 percent, often requiring repeat operations.
Sechenov University has completed the full development cycle of the technology — from laboratory research to certified production of the cell-based medicinal product and its clinical use — entirely within its own facilities under state science and education programmes. This makes it one of the few institutions globally to have achieved a complete, in-house translational pipeline for regenerative medicine.
Researchers highlight that the same cell spheroid and resorbable membrane platform could be adapted in the future for regenerating other tissues and organs, extending its potential far beyond ear repair.
This development positions Russia among the world’s leaders in clinical regenerative therapies, shifting eardrum repair from conventional surgery to biologically driven tissue regeneration.
