Kessler Foundation received a $1 million donation to launch research at its new Center for Spinal Stimulation in East Hanover, N.J., reports Eurekalert.
The donation was made by Tim Reynolds, co-founder of the Wall Street firm Jane Street Capital, and his wife, Caroline.
Three insights:
1. CSS will study two treatments for recovery after spinal cord injury, transcutaneous and epidural spinal stimulation, which both apply electrical stimulation to the spinal cord to activate nerves.
2. Preliminary studies found that paralyzed patients were able to stand during stimulation and two regained voluntary movement, following a combination of stimulation and physical therapy.
3. The study will focus on the neural mechanisms that underlie motor function and the effects of spinal cord injury, allowing for the development of new treatments for people paralyzed due to spinal cord injuries.
"This timely gift will enable us to find out how to maximize gains in function," said Steven Kirshblum, MD, senior medical officer and director of the Spinal Cord Injury Program at Kessler Institute in Hanover, N.J. "But more importantly, how to translate those gains into greater independence for the community of individuals living with spinal cord injury."