What Is Autologous Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cells are the body’s master repair cells — undifferentiated cells with the unique ability to develop into the specialized cell types needed to heal damaged tissue. They are present throughout your body, with the richest and most therapeutically potent concentration found in your bone marrow — particularly in the iliac crest, which contains the highest density of adult stem cells of any location in the skeleton.
Bone marrow contains two primary stem cell populations that work together in regenerative therapy. Hematopoietic stem cells regulate blood and immune function, helping modulate the inflammatory response at the treatment site. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the primary regenerative engine — multipotent cells capable of differentiating into bone, cartilage, fibrous connective tissue, and neuron-supporting cell types.
“Autologous” means the cells come from you — not from a donor, not from an umbilical cord, not from any external biological source. Dr. Pribil harvests bone marrow from the posterior iliac crest — a minimally invasive, well-tolerated aspiration from the back of the hip — concentrates the stem cells, and delivers them precisely to the regions of your body that need regeneration most.
Once delivered, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells work through several powerful biological mechanisms: they differentiate into the tissue types needed for repair; they release growth factors — including BDNF and VEGF — that support nerve survival and regrowth; they promote angiogenesis, stimulating the formation of new blood vessels that restore circulation to damaged tissue; they modulate the immune response to reduce chronic inflammation; and they actively home toward injury sites, responding to chemotactic signals released by damaged tissue to concentrate their regenerative effect precisely where it is needed most. Together, these mechanisms create the biological environment in which healing can finally begin.
Dr. Stefan Pribil
Board-Certified Neurosurgeon — Founder, Stem Cell MD | West Palm Beach
Dr. Pribil completed his neurosurgical residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has held medical licensure across fourteen states over a four-decade career. He completed advanced Gamma Knife radiosurgery training in Stockholm, Marseille, and Los Angeles, and has served as Medical Director of neurosurgical practices across Florida, Michigan, Texas, Louisiana, and Colorado.
In 2026, Dr. Pribil founded Stem Cell MD — bringing the full depth of his neurosurgical career to bear on the emerging science of regenerative medicine. Stem Cell MD is located at 1645 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, Suite 1200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, serving patients throughout South Florida and beyond. Follow Dr. Pribil on Instagram at @drpribil_neurosurgeon.
“I have spent 40 years operating on the spine. I understand these structures — the cord, the nerve roots, the discs, the joints — at a level that comes only from decades in the operating room. When I apply that knowledge to stem cell therapy, the result is a level of precision and safety that a general practitioner or wellness clinic simply cannot offer. That is the promise of Stem Cell MD.” — Dr. Stefan Pribil
Explore Our Treatment Areas
Dr. Pribil evaluates and treats a wide range of conditions with autologous stem cell therapy at his West Palm Beach practice.
Select a treatment area below to learn more about the conditions treated, the science behind the therapy, and what patients can expect — or contact Dr. Pribil directly to discuss your specific situation.
Stem Cell Therapy for Degenerative Disc Disease
Chronic low back pain, neck pain, degenerative disc disease, facet joint arthritis, radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, and post-surgical adjacent segment disease — stem cell therapy offers a regenerative alternative when conservative care has fallen short and surgery is not yet the right answer.
Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury & Neurological Recovery
Traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury, post-surgical neurological deficits, cervical myelopathy, and central neuropathic pain — conditions that demand a neurosurgeon’s anatomical precision and a regenerative biologist’s toolkit. Dr. Pribil brings both.
Stem Cell Therapy for Chronic Pain & Nerve Regeneration
Peripheral neuropathy, failed back surgery syndrome, sciatica, trauma-related nerve injury, occipital neuralgia, atypical facial pain, degenerative joint pain, and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy — for patients who have tried everything and are ready for a different approach.
Who Is a Candidate for Autologous Stem Cell Therapy?
Autologous stem cell therapy at Stem Cell MD is appropriate for a broad range of patients. Dr. Pribil evaluates each candidate individually — there is no one-size-fits-all protocol. In general, patients who may benefit most include those who:
Have chronic spinal pain — low back, neck, or mid-back — that has not responded to physical therapy, medications, or injections
Have been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, facet arthritis, or spinal stenosis and are not yet surgical candidates
Are living with the neurological consequences of a spinal cord injury and wish to explore regenerative options for recovery
Have peripheral neuropathy — from diabetes, trauma, post-surgical damage, or chemotherapy — that has not responded to conventional care
Experience chronic joint pain in the knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, wrists, or ankles and wish to delay or avoid joint replacement
Experience sacroiliac joint pain, rotator cuff injury, or sports-related joint damage that has not responded to conservative treatment
Suffer from headaches, occipital neuralgia, or atypical facial pain following a thorough neurosurgical evaluation
Are in generally good health with no active systemic infection, blood disorder, or active cancer that would affect bone marrow quality
The only way to know for certain whether you are a candidate is to speak directly with Dr. Pribil. His consultation process is personal, thorough, and honest — he will tell you clearly what stem cell therapy can and cannot offer in your specific situation. Cash-pay and personal injury cases are welcome at Stem Cell MD in West Palm Beach.