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Ischemic stroke results in a loss of neurons for which there are no available clinical strategies to stimulate regeneration. While preclinical studies have demonstrated that functional recovery can be obtained by transplanting an exogenous source of neural progenitors into the brain, it remains unknown at which stage of neuronal maturity cells will provide the most benefit. We investigated the role of neuronal maturity on cell survival, differentiation, and long-term sensorimotor recovery in stroke-injured rats using a population of human cortically-specified neuroepithelial progenitor cells (cNEPs) delivered in a biocompatible, bioresorbable hyaluronan/methylcellulose hydrogel. We demonstrate that transplantation of immature cNEPs result in the greatest tissue and functional repair, relative to transplantation of more mature neurons. The transplantation process itself resulted in the least cell death and phenotypic …