We are one of 18 Spinal Cord Injury Model System Centers currently contributing research to the National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Database, the world’s largest database for SCI research. More than 51,000 people with traumatic SCI have been enrolled in the database since it was created in 1973, including more than 1,500 participants from our NNJSCIS.
Each year, NNJSCIS enrolls 50 to 60 newly injured participants, collecting information on demographics, cause of injury, and injury severity. Participants then complete follow-up interviews every few years, providing updates on employment, health, functioning, and quality of life after SCI. Our participation as an SCI Model System Center has given us extensive insight into the latest research, education, and treatment in spinal cord injury recovery and rehabilitation.
Through the NNJSCIS, we continue to find ways to help people with spinal cord injury improve their mobility, minimize medical complications, and participate fully in the community. New projects target two quality-of-life challenges. One supports return to work after spinal cord injury. Another, with other SCIMS centers, examines how people use financial assistance to manage injury-related costs.
Accessible SCI Education Resources
NNJSCIS researchers work closely with the SCI Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center to create and share resources that help people with SCI maximize their health and participation in community life. These user-friendly resources are grounded in evidence and available in a variety of formats such as printable PDF documents, videos, and slideshows.
Our Leading Patient Education Videos
Our patient education videos on bowel management and pressure ulcer prevention rank among the top five most viewed on the Foundation’s YouTube channels. Rehabilitation centers across the United States now use these videos to educate patients, underscoring their relevance and value in supporting self-care among people with spinal cord injury and related conditions.
Learn More from Our Scientists
The Principal Investigators of the NNJSCIS are Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, and Steven Kirshblum, MD.
The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90SIMS0012). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this website do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
