Sources of Information and links you may find useful

For the latest research:

ICORD (International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries)

This is an interdisciplinary research centre for the development of effective strategies to promote functional recovery after spinal cord injury. This project brings together spinal cord injury researchers from the Sciences, Medicine, Surgery, Rehabilitation, Engineering, Education, and community-based Humanities research. ICORD is working to facilitate the discovery and implementation of relevant solutions to improve functional recovery, mobility, community integration and quality of life for people with spinal cord injury.

ICORD’s areas of research include:

Research: from cells to community

ICORD research is anything from cellular to community level research that addresses a question concerning the promotion of improved functional outcomes and quality of life for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). ICORD's research activities span a range from basic, pre-clinical discovery, to human-based discovery, to acute clinical interventions, to chronic care and rehabilitation, to community integration and participation.

Experimental Treatments in Spinal Cord Injury:

For people with spinal cord injury, (SCI), their families, friends and caregivers, the decision to receive an experimental treatment or enter a clinical trial is a challenging one. To learn more about the design and conduct of valid clinical trials, visit the website and download a booklet supported by the ICCP (International Campaign for Cures of spinal cord injury Paralysis) and developed by an expert panel of researchers and doctors with extensive scientific and clinical experience in spinal cord injury (SCI).

SCIRE: Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Evidence

The Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Evidence (SCIRE) is a synthesis of the research evidence underlying rehabilitation interventions to improve the health of people living with spinal cord injury (SCI). SCIRE covers a comprehensive set of topics relevant to spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation and community re-integration.

For support and information:

National Spinal Cord Injury Strategy Board

The NSCISB was established in March 2010. The purpose of the Board is:

1. To agree a co-ordinated and common approach across England to the delivery and commissioning of services for people with spinal cord injury.
2. To ensure improved health outcomes for people with spinal cord injury in England by effective commissioning of appropriate high quality and cost effective services.

Spinal Injuries Association

The Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) is the leading national charity for spinal cord injured people.

Their aims are to:

• Offer support and assistance from the time of injury and for the rest of a paralysed person's life
• Provide services to increase an individual's quality of life
• Support the families of newly injured people
• Increase knowledge and awareness of the causes and consequences of spinal cord injury
• Campaign for the best medical and social care for people with spinal cord injury.

We hope you will explore their website where you will find huge amounts of information, experiences and ideas.

Aspire

Aspire offers practical support to the 40,000 people living with a spinal cord injury in the UK through its projects and programmes. The aim is for people to lead fulfilled and independent lives in their homes, with their families, in work places and in their leisure time

What they do:

Aspire’s core services provide the practical support that can be needed by those who sustain spinal cord injuries.

The services offered cover a range of areas and are available to new patients in the NHS Spinal Cord Injury Centres, to those who have just been discharged from hospital and to people who have been living with their injury for years. But whilst they are different in what they do, they all have the same goal – to help take someone from injury to independence.

Aspire’s Human Needs Fund gives grants to people to help them buy the specialist equipment they need to live a more independent life.

Their Housing Programme provides fully accessible properties around the UK that can be used on a short-term basis whilst someone is adapting their own property or hunting for a permanent home.

The Aspire Independent Living Advisors work in the Spinal Cord Injury Centres, and provide advice and guidance to the patients and ensuring they get the support and services they need.

Aspire’s Assistive Technology facilities in the Spinal Centres ensure that everyone, regardless of the level of their injury, has independent access to a computer.

Back Up

Back Up is a small and professional charity that runs three distinct services: wheelchair skills, mentoring and rehabilitative activity or cultural courses. These services are peer-led and encourage independence, self-confidence and motivation following a life- changing injury.