Dr. Nathan Hogaboom of Kessler Foundation named winner of the Ernest Bors, MD Award for Scientific Development by the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine

Award-winning article details pilot study applying principles of regenerative rehabilitation research to the treatment of disabling shoulder pain in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury

East Hanover, NJ. September 8, 2022. Nathan Hogaboom, PhD, of Kessler Foundation is the recipient of this year's Ernest Bors, MD Award for Scientific Development. This prestigious award was announced by the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine and the leadership of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals.

Dr. Hogaboom is primary author of the top-scoring article published in 2021 by a young investigator, “A pilot study to evaluate micro-fragmented adipose tissue injection under ultrasound guidance for the treatment of refractory rotator cuff disease in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury,” which was co-authored by, Gerard Malanga, MD, Chris Cherian, MD, and Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD. Dr. Hogaboom presents his award-winning research on September 10, 2022, at the Academy’s annual conference in Kansas City, Missouri, where he will be honored as the Journal’s newest Bors Awardee. This pilot study was conducted during Dr. Hogaboom’s tenure as the inaugural Derfner-Lieberman Postdoctoral Fellow in Regenerative Rehabilitation Research at Kessler Foundation.

The Bors Award is offered annually by the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, official journal of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals, to qualified authors whose work was published in the Journal during the prior calendar year. The award memorializes Ernest “Pappy” Bors, MD, (1900–1990), a pioneer in the care of veterans disabled by spinal cord injury. Since 1990, this award has acknowledged excellence in spinal cord injury research among early career professionals who share Dr. Bors’ dedication to transforming the future of people living with spinal cord injury.

“Joining the ranks of Bors Awardees is more than an honor for me personally,” said Dr. Hogaboom. “This recognition of our regenerative rehabilitation research in spinal cord injury is most encouraging,” he continued. “Applying this novel approach to debilitating shoulder pain in wheelchair users revealed a promising alternative to surgery in this population. By minimizing pain and restoring shoulder function, individuals with spinal cord injury will be able to resume work and leisure activities that may improve their quality of life.”

Dr. Hogaboom is currently a research scientist in the Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research at Kessler Foundation, where he also co-directs the Derfner-Lieberman Laboratory for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research with Dr. Dyson-Hudson. Dr. Hogaboom serves as an early career officer of the American Congress of Rehabilitative Medicine’s Spinal Cord Injury Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group and is a research assistant professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Citation: Hogaboom N, Malanga G, Cherian C, Dyson-Hudson T. A pilot study to evaluate micro-fragmented adipose tissue injection under ultrasound guidance for the treatment of refractory rotator cuff disease in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med 2021.; 44:6, 886-895, DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2021.1903140 Online April 08, 2021.

Funding sources: Derfner Foundation, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (90SI5026)

About the Ernest Bors, MD Award for Scientific Development

Since 1994, the Bors Award has memorialized Dr. Ernest Bors (1900-1990), a pioneer in spinal cord injury care and research. Faced with caring for thousands of wounded veterans considered "hopeless cases", Dr. Bors had to fight for basic resources. Despite these challenges, he made research and publication a priority. The Bors Award honors excellence among young investigators who, following the example set by Dr. Bors, are pursuing careers dedicated to bettering the lives of individuals with spinal cord injury. For more about Dr. Bors, who was revered by his many patients, see: Bodner D. The Bors Award: Legacy of Ernest H.J. "Pappy" Bors, MD. J Spinal Cord Med. 2009;32(1):1-2. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2647495/)

Primary authors of research articles published in the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine are encouraged to contact the assistant editor for an application following notification of acceptance for publication in the Journal. For manuscripts accepted during 2022, the deadline for applications is January 16, 2023. Applicants must have conducted their research during their training.

About the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine (JSCM) serves the international community of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of people with injuries/disorders of the spinal cord. JSCM is the peer-reviewed official journal of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals, a US-based multidisciplinary organization serving scientists, physicians, psychologists, nurses, therapists, and social workers in the field of spinal cord injury care and research. JSCM, a member benefit of the Academy, is published six times a year by Taylor & Francis Publishing. The editor-in-chief is Dr. Florian Thomas of Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Hackensack, NJ, US.

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes – including employment – for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities.