From discovery research to translating those discoveries and implementing them into treatments for people with SCI, it takes an army of dedicated professionals and like-minded organizations working together towards a common goal to reduce the impact of paralysis after SCI.

A new study hopes to prove benefits of telehealth initiatives for bladder management in people with spinal cord injuries

Karen developed a spinal cord injury at the age of 15. Despite the many challenges, Karen didn’t let her injury stop her from achieving her goals.  

Pressure ulcers are a common occurrence for people with SCI, whether in care or at home in the community. Pressure ulcers are often more debilitating than the spinal cord injury itself. According to a recent RHI-sponsored survey of people with SCI in the community, pressure ulcers significantly limit activities for almost half of the respondents presenting this complication.

Damage to a person’s spinal cord doesn’t stop at the time of injury: the cord can continue to deteriorate for a long time afterwards, for reasons that are still not yet fully understood. This is why research into the cure for spinal cord injuries looks not only at how to repair the initial injury, but also how to prevent this delayed deterioration of the spinal cord after injury has occurred. This second type of research is known as “neuroprotective” research. The work of a team of Alberta researchers into one potential neuroprotective agent, minocycline, has led to an international collaboration to translate this promising therapy to clinical practice.