An estimated 11,000 spinal cord injuries occur each year in the United

States and more than 200,000 Americans suffer from maladies associated

with spinal cord injury. This includes paralysis, bowel and bladder dysfunction,

sexual dysfunction, respiratory impairment, temperature regulation

problems, and chronic pain. During the last two decades, longstanding

beliefs about the inability of the adult central nervous system to heal itself

have been eroded by the flood of new information from research in the

neurosciences and related fields. However, there are still no cures and the

challenge of restoring function in the wake of spinal cord injuries remains

extremely complex.



Spinal Cord Injury examines the future directions for research with the

goal to accelerate the development of cures for spinal cord injuries. While

many of the recommendations are framed within the context of the specific

needs articulated by the New York Spinal Cord Injury Research Board,

the Institute of Medicine's panel of experts looked very broadly at research

priorities relating to future directions for the field in general and make recommendations

to strengthen and coordinate the existing infrastructure.

Funders at federal and state agencies, academic organizations, pharmaceutical

and device companies, and non-profit organizations will all find this

book to be an essential resource as they examine their opportunities.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 Introduction
2 Progression of Spinal Cord Injury
3 Tools for Assessing Spinal Cord Injury and Repair
4 Current Therapeutic Interventions
5 Progress Toward Neuronal Repair and Regeneration
6 Developing New Therapeutic Interventions: From the Laboratory to the Clinic
7 Research Organization: Creating an Environment to Accelerate Progress
8 State Programs in Spinal Cord Injury
Appendix A Study Process
Appendix B Acronyms
Appendix C Glossary of Major Terms
Appendix D Tools to Assess Spinal Cord Injury Outcomes
Appendix E Clinical Trials of Methylprednisolone
Appendix F Examples of Alternative Therapies
Appendix G Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Trials Published from 1998 to 2003
Appendix H Legislation Sponsoring State Spinal Cord Injury Research
Appendix I Committee and Staff Biographies
Index