When the spinal cord is injured, the brain and spinal cord can no longer communicate, leading to paralysis. Until earlier this year, there was no strategy to recover movement in the large number of people who sustain these types of injuries every year. In a recent study13, an implantable digital bridge was engineered and implanted in a participant with tetraplegia. The man was able to walk naturally and climb stairs at the conclusion of the study.

Of course, these are only a snapshot of the articles that the Nature Biotechnology editors read with interest this past year. Please also see our list of our top ten news stories, also published in this issue. We’re looking forward to seeing what 2024 brings!