Mission Connect promotes spinal cord injury research

angel7 · 05-09-2003, 03:42 PM

Howard Wolf, chairman of the TIRR Systems Board of Trustees, made this prediction last year at the national announcement of Mission Connect, the Texas Research Consortium for Spinal Cord Regeneration.

Through Mission Connect, The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research and medical schools Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have been working together to help those with spinal cord injury regain maximum function.

"We've gotten off to an excellent start," says Cindy Lucia, executive director and president of TIRR Foundation.

It's unusual for three academic institutions to combine their resources under one project, according to Lucia.

The cooperation has been prompted by the fact that "the goal is so compelling," Lucia says. "The enthusiasm for this project is overwhelming. Everyone wants to offer their knowledge and expertise."

The state of research indicates that the consequences of spinal cord injury can be reversible and a cure will be found in the near future, according to Lucia, and the fact that TIRR is committed to raising significant funds has also helped gained support from the academic community.

Although 15 to 20 laboratories throughout the world are researching the same issue, Mission Connect is unusual in that it represents a collaboration between researchers and a hospital which historically has been known for its care for individuals with spinal injury, according to Lucia.

"We've provided care and now are committed to research," she says. "The hospital has had experience with patients for 40 years. The collaboration between researchers and the hospital can be significant and the resources of Mission Connect are unparalleled internationally."

Some of the funding for spinal cord injury research is coming from the TIRR Emily Endowment, which was established by the TIRR Foundation and the Thomas R. Conner family to honor 21-year-old Houstonian Emily Conner, who injured her spinal cord in a diving incident in August 1996.

Early this year, the TIRR Emily Endowment reached its goal of raising $1 million to provide seed money for a $25 million endowment. The money was raised through a gala, which netted $450,000, and through a donation by the Houston's John S. Dunn Research Foundation.

Grants of $100,000 have been made to UTMB for experiments to identify mechanisms that cause chronic pain in spinal cord injury which may affect function and to Baylor for experiments applying gene therapy to the repair of spinal cord injury.

Funds raised through the foundation's second "Hand in Hand With Hope" gala, scheduled Nov. 19 at the Edwin Hornberger Conference Center, and other sources will be used for direct research needs, such as laboratory equipment and research personnel.

"We are getting ready to launch a $33 million capital and endowment campaign," Lucia says.

Mission Connect is also conducting an international search for a scientific director for the program.

"In the meantime, we have very dedicated scientists and physicians who are working together, including Dr. Guy Clinton, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the UTMB; Dr. Robert Grossman, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Baylor; and Claire Hulsebosch, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience at the UTMB."

Other major events have included the Moreton-Spencer Workshop, an international symposium on spinal cord regeneration research, which TIRR hosted last Nov. 7 in the Texas Medical Center.

Mission Connect plans to host such conferences, sponsored by the endowment, every 18 to 24 months.

Deb

member412678 · 05-17-2003, 11:29 AM

" THE INSTITUTE FOR REHABILITATION AND RESEARCH AND MEDICAL SCHOOLS AT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, ETC ETC ETC HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY REGAIN MAXIMUM FUNCTION".
My husbands comment on this...As a former patient of Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas, Texas, all that comes to mind after reading this is..."BULL !".

Schmeky · 05-18-2003, 12:53 PM

What concerns me is in an earlier post, Dr. Guy said,

"we might be able to make a paralyzed muscle move in the next ten years".

05-09-2003, 03:42 PM	#1
angel7 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Alvin,Texas Posts: 1,945	Mission Connect promotes spinal cord injury research Howard Wolf, chairman of the TIRR Systems Board of Trustees, made this prediction last year at the national announcement of Mission Connect, the Texas Research Consortium for Spinal Cord Regeneration. Through Mission Connect, The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research and medical schools Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have been working together to help those with spinal cord injury regain maximum function. "We've gotten off to an excellent start," says Cindy Lucia, executive director and president of TIRR Foundation. It's unusual for three academic institutions to combine their resources under one project, according to Lucia. The cooperation has been prompted by the fact that "the goal is so compelling," Lucia says. "The enthusiasm for this project is overwhelming. Everyone wants to offer their knowledge and expertise." The state of research indicates that the consequences of spinal cord injury can be reversible and a cure will be found in the near future, according to Lucia, and the fact that TIRR is committed to raising significant funds has also helped gained support from the academic community. Although 15 to 20 laboratories throughout the world are researching the same issue, Mission Connect is unusual in that it represents a collaboration between researchers and a hospital which historically has been known for its care for individuals with spinal injury, according to Lucia. "We've provided care and now are committed to research," she says. "The hospital has had experience with patients for 40 years. The collaboration between researchers and the hospital can be significant and the resources of Mission Connect are unparalleled internationally." Some of the funding for spinal cord injury research is coming from the TIRR Emily Endowment, which was established by the TIRR Foundation and the Thomas R. Conner family to honor 21-year-old Houstonian Emily Conner, who injured her spinal cord in a diving incident in August 1996. Early this year, the TIRR Emily Endowment reached its goal of raising $1 million to provide seed money for a $25 million endowment. The money was raised through a gala, which netted $450,000, and through a donation by the Houston's John S. Dunn Research Foundation. Grants of $100,000 have been made to UTMB for experiments to identify mechanisms that cause chronic pain in spinal cord injury which may affect function and to Baylor for experiments applying gene therapy to the repair of spinal cord injury. Funds raised through the foundation's second "Hand in Hand With Hope" gala, scheduled Nov. 19 at the Edwin Hornberger Conference Center, and other sources will be used for direct research needs, such as laboratory equipment and research personnel. "We are getting ready to launch a $33 million capital and endowment campaign," Lucia says. Mission Connect is also conducting an international search for a scientific director for the program. "In the meantime, we have very dedicated scientists and physicians who are working together, including Dr. Guy Clinton, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the UTMB; Dr. Robert Grossman, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Baylor; and Claire Hulsebosch, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience at the UTMB." Other major events have included the Moreton-Spencer Workshop, an international symposium on spinal cord regeneration research, which TIRR hosted last Nov. 7 in the Texas Medical Center. Mission Connect plans to host such conferences, sponsored by the endowment, every 18 to 24 months. Deb

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-17-2003, 11:29 AM	#2
member412678 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 690	" THE INSTITUTE FOR REHABILITATION AND RESEARCH AND MEDICAL SCHOOLS AT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, ETC ETC ETC HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY REGAIN MAXIMUM FUNCTION". My husbands comment on this...As a former patient of Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas, Texas, all that comes to mind after reading this is..."BULL !".

05-18-2003, 12:53 PM	#3
Schmeky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: West Monroe, LA, USA Posts: 3,150	What concerns me is in an earlier post, Dr. Guy said, "we might be able to make a paralyzed muscle move in the next ten years".