SPINAL CORD INJURY

A NEW ALLIANCE TO SUPPORT RESEARCH

A special alliance among organizations involved in spinal cord research has been realized. The mission and objectives of this alliance, termed the International Campaign for Cures of Spinal Cord Injury Paralysis (ICCP), are described on the May issue of “Spinal Cord” (M. Adams and J.F.R. Cavanagh. International Campaign for Cures of Spinal Cord Injury Paralysis (ICCP): another step forward for spinal cord injury research Spinal Cord 42, Number 5, Pages 273-280, May 2004).

For over 20 years, charitable organizations have worked to promote research that will cure the paralysis associated with spinal cord injury (SCI). When they began this quest, the consequences of SCI were thought to be permanent; that once damaged, the spinal cord could not be repaired. Today, the same organizations are credited with funding research that has realized many significant advances, brought new optimism and changed the outlook of researchers, clinicians and injured individuals alike. Progress in understanding the basic biology of spinal cord repair means that it is now a case of how soon useful treatments will be available, rather than if there will ever be anything to offer. With this in mind, many of the organizations that promote spinal cord research have formed an alliance to determine the ways in which their collaboration can hasten progress.

BM&L-May 2004