The present invention provides methods and compositions for enhancing 
recovery in a subject suffering from damage to the 
nervous system. In particular, the invention includes a method for promoting 
recovery and / or reorganization in the 
nervous system of a subject in need of enhancement of 
recovery and / or reorganization of the 
nervous system as a result of ischemic, hemorrhagic, neoplastic, degenerative, or traumatic damage by focally administering a composition comprising a 
proteolysis-enhancing agent such as 
tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), 
plasmin, or a PAI inhibitor to the nervous 
system of the subject. In some embodiments an additional 
active agent is also administered. The composition can be delivered using a variety of techniques including injection, via 
infusion pump, from an implantable microchip, or using a polymeric 
delivery vehicle. The composition can be administered, for example, to one or more subdivisions or areas of the brain, the 
spinal cord, or to one or more nerves or nerve tracts innervating diverse regions of the body. The invention also includes a 
drug delivery device for implantation into the nervous 
system to promote nervous 
system reorganization and / or recovery following ischemic, hemorrhagic, neoplastic, traumatic or degenerative damage, the 
drug delivery device comprising a biocompatible 
polymer and a 
proteolysis-enhancing agent such as 
tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), 
plasmin, or a PAI inhibitor, wherein the 
proteolysis-enhancing agent is released from the 
polymer in an amount effective to promote structural reorganization of the nervous system. In some embodiments the biocompatible 
polymer is a hydrogel.