Methods are disclosed herein for increasing survival of transplanted cells, either in vitro or in vivo. In additional embodiments, methods are disclosed for treating a subject with a spinal cord injury or a neurodegenerative disorder. The methods include administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of cells, such as bone marrow stromal cells, and a therapeutically effective amount of a reverse thermal gel composition. The reverse thermal gel compositing includes a triblock copolymer, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, having the structure B-A-B in which A is one of a polyurethane or poly(ester urethane) group that comprises one or more pendant active groups, blocked active groups or active agents and B is a hydrophilic block, wherein the composition is a gel at 25° C.-40° C. and a liquid solution at a lower temperature.