Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research
Restoring Function and Activity after SCI
Living with spinal cord injury presents a multitude of challenges - from maintaining health to achieving maximal independence. Addressing these challenges entails collaborative research, educational outreach, and training of professionals in research and care. Our ultimate goal is to develop ways to fully restore individuals with spinal cord injury to their pre-injury levels of function, activity, and quality of life.
Center Leadership
Center Leadership
Laboratory Leadership
Laboratory Leadership
Enhance Your Spinal Cord Injury Caregiving Expertise
Enroll in our free, online education course designed to provide training for personal care assistants and others who work with individuals with spinal cord injury. The course introduces learners to the physical and emotional experience of living with SCI and offers suggestions for building positive working relationships.
Learn More About This Course Enroll for Free Course Focus Explained by Experts
Exploring Applications of Regenerative Rehabilitation
Shoulder injuries are a common cause of pain and loss of function among manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. When medication and physical therapy fail to address the pain, regenerative rehabilitation offers a new alternative to surgery. For chronic shoulder pain, a procedure using the Lipogems® system is being tested for the first time in individuals with SCI. The procedure involves injecting a sample of the person’s own fat into the shoulder joint under ultrasound guidance. Fat tissue provides cushioning and fills structural defects, and may deposit bioactive and regenerative elements in the damaged tissues. Early results are promising in this population.
Resources
The Center for SCI Research provides updates on research, educational resources, and events for professionals and consumers through Connections newsletter and FaceBook support page.
A comprehensive listing of resources of interest to individuals with SCI, their families and caregivers.
Multimedia
Living to the Fullest with No Shoulder Pain
Joe Monteforte sustained a spinal cord injury (SCI) from a construction accident. Paralyzed from the waist down, he learned to propel in a wheelchair, which put added stress and pain in his shoulders. Thanks to your generosity, he joined Kessler Foundation’s regenerative medicine study, regaining strength and function to move forward with his life.
Now, Joe’s shoulder is pain free and he can transfer in and out of his wheelchair and car independently, go for five-mile strolls in the park with his wife, and help around the house.
Join a Research Study Today
