CRPF Feb 5, 2002

[Wise Young]

CRPF will soon award its first round of research grants for 2002, and there is no shortage of exciting projects from which to choose

The Foundation received more than $10 million in grant proposals by the December 15, 2001 deadline. This is by far the greatest total funding request CRPF has ever had to consider.

Proposals arrived from laboratories all over the world, from France to Australia, from Spain to the Netherlands. Of the 80 proposals CRPF received, 14 were for postdoctoral fellowships. This is a larger percentage than in previous grant cycles, and is reflective of an exciting trend -- many more young scientists are moving into the spinal cord injury research field.

The proposals cover the full spectrum of spinal cord injury research, including:

Axon guidance: bridging gaps, cysts or extensive scarring left by spinal cord injuries in order to guide new nerves into healthy tissue;
Cellular replacement: using stem cells to replace nerve cells destroyed in a spinal cord injury;
Immune response: regulating the immune response, including bolstering the positive effects of this process, and suppressing the harmful ones; -- Rehabilitation strategies; and,
Concomitant function: side effects of a spinal cord injury, such as pain, spasms, and loss of bowel and bladder control.

All of the scientists who submitted grant requests to CRPF are devoted to finding effective treatments or cures for paralysis and other central nervous system disorders. Some are continuing already promising avenues of research; others are exploring never-before used techniques.

By supporting the most promising science outlined in these proposals -- including cutting-edge research that comes with high risks but even higher rewards -- CRPF will help continue our steady progress towards the cure.

[judykerperien]

DR. Young, What 3 organizations would you choose to give to, it is tax time and people are always asking me which is the best spinal cord research center to give to. of course you are at the top of the list, thanks

[Wise Young]

judy, I am not sure that I should answer this question not only because I have a conflict of interest but because any list that I give will necessarily restrict some organization. Perhaps others should give their recommendations.

What you should look for in your contributions, if it is important to you to fund research:
1. What percentage of the funding goes to research and what goes to administration and other costs?
2. What is the quality of the research that is being funded?
3. Is the research of the type that is of interest to you and what you want to promote?
4. How responsive is the organization to its donors?

Most of this information you should be able to get. For example, every organization should be able (and is bound by law) to tell you what percentage of the funds will go into research. You should be able to see what research projects they have funded, whether the research topics are in the area that you are interested in funding. Finally, I think that responsiveness of the organization to its donors is important. That means that they value the donor.

Wise.

[bill1938]

I think that is an excellent idea, the money is so important to SCI cure treatments. I am still hoping to gain a level or two of function after all these years.
Bill M.