Administrative EP052 - The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center

The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) coalesces data from the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers (SCIMS), a network of combined research and care teams that specialize in spinal cord injury (SCI). The statistical center generates national SCI demography, published in their annual full report and "facts and figures" summary. In this summary, a variety of experts will tell us about their use of the NSCISC and their experience with SCIMS, including a history of these important national services and the importance of continuing them into the future. Importantly, this episode was planned and hosted in conjunction with INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, with their producer-host Sharon Parmet.

Join us this episode for a conversation with Stephen Burns, MD, physiatrist, Professor of PM&R at University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, and Director of SCI Service at VA Puget Sound. In this conversation we discuss the process of shortening, or expediting, the International Standards for the Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) exam. Most people know this exam, which assigns a level and grade to their injury, as their "ASIA" exam. The paper explaining the process is titled "“Development and validation of an algorithm for item reduction of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury examination to determine level and severity of SCI" which was recently accepted for publication in Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation." In this paper Dr. Burns and their team discuss the process by which this rather long exam can be reduced to less than half the items with acceptable accuracy for some, but not all, types of spinal cord injury. We invite you to listen in as Dr. Burns gives an insider perspective on the new E-ISNCSCI, and trust you will enjoy this episode on making an important but long exam quite a bit shorter. Other resources: ASIA's webpage on the E-ISNCSCI: https://asia-spinalinjury.org/expedited-isncsci-exam/Upcoming webinar on the E-ISNCSCI: https://asia-spinalinjury.org/tscir-webinars/

Join us this episode for a conversation with Stephen Burns, MD, physiatrist, Professor of PM&R at University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, and Director of SCI Service at VA Puget Sound. In this conversation we discuss the process of minting a shortened, or expedited, version of the International Standards for the Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) exam. The paper explaining the process is titled "“Development and validation of an algorithm for item reduction of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury examination to determine level and severity of SCI" which was recently accepted for publication in Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation." In this paper Dr. Burns and their team discuss the process by which a 134 item physical exam can be reduced to 42 +/- 10 exam items with acceptable accuracy for some, but not all, neurological levels and impairment scales. We invite you to listen in as Dr. Burns gives an insider perspective on the E-ISNCSCI-V2, and trust you will enjoy this episode on the second iteration of shorting the ISNCSCI. Other resources: ASIA's webpage on the E-ISNCSCI: https://asia-spinalinjury.org/expedited-isncsci-exam/Upcoming webinar on the E-ISNCSCI: https://asia-spinalinjury.org/tscir-webinars/

Join us this episode for a conversation with Norbert Weidner, MD, Professor and Chair of the Spinal Cord Injury Center at Heidelberg University Hospital. In this conversation we discuss results of a clinical trial called the Neuroimmunophilin Nogo-A Antibody in Spinal Cord Injury (NISCI) trial. Findings from this trial were published in a paper titled "Safety and efficacy of intrathecal antibodies to Nogo-A in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 2b trial" in the journal Lancet Neurology. In this paper Weidner and the NISCI team discuss the top-line findings from this large multi-center clinical trial where a drug (with antibodies against Nogo-A, a protein found in the walls of spinal cord neurons and their support cells) were given to people early after their accident. We invite you to listen in as Dr. Weidner gives an insider perspective on the NISCI trial, and trust you will enjoy our conversation on new pharmaology in the acute phase of SCI.

Join us this episode for a conversation with Norbert Weidner, MD, Professor and Chair of the Spinal Cord Injury Center at Heidelberg University Hospital. In this conversation we discuss results of the Neuroimmunophilin Nogo-A Antibody in Spinal Cord Injury (NISCI) trial, published in a paper titled "Safety and efficacy of intrathecal antibodies to Nogo-A in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 2b trial" in the journal Lancet Neurology. In this paper Weidner and their NISCI team discuss the top-line findings from a large multi-center clinical trial where antibodies against Nogo-A were administered to the spinal space early after acquired SCI. We invite you to listen in as Dr. Weidner gives an insider perspective on the NISCI trial, and trust you will enjoy our conversation on intrathecal drug delivery in the acute phase of SCI.

Join us in this episode for a conversation with Jen French and Ian Burkhart, leaders of neurotech development movements and users of implanted neurological devices. Our guests share briefly about their experience with implanted devices, and then the conversation zooms in on exciting recently developments in implantable brain-computer interface (iBCI) and electrical simulation options such as epidural spinal cord stimulation (eSCS). Having been through the process, Jen and Ian deliberate on the importance and steps in engaging people with the lived-experience of paralysis in the development of meaningful clinical outcome assessments for clinical trials. Safety and aversion to electing for implantation are also discussed. We hope you enjoy this episode with Jen French and Ian Burkhart on these exciting neurological technologies and the role of lived-experience in neurotech now and in the future.

Join us this episode for a conversation with Daniela Terson de Paleville, PhD, professor of Physiology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, and Marcelo Gatti, PT, director of neurorehabilitation in the area of spinal cord injury at Fleni Institute Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina. In this conversation we discuss the paper titled "Gait recovery in patients with late assessment of incomplete spinal cord injury: A retrospective study in Argentina" published in The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine. In this paper Terson de Paleville and Gatti discuss the current state of neurorehabilitation targeting recovery of walking after incomplete spinal cord injury at the Fleni Institute in particular and Argentina more broadly. We invite you to listen in as Terson de Paleville and Gatti connect Latin America to ASIA both in their science and in our discussion, and trust you will enjoy our multi-lingual conversation on Argentinian gait rehabilitation.

Join us this episode for a conversation with Daniela Terson de Paleville, PhD, professor of Physiology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, and Marcelo Gatti, PT, director of neurorehabilitation in the area of spinal cord injury at Fleni Institute Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina. In this conversation we discuss the paper titled "Gait recovery in patients with late assessment of incomplete spinal cord injury: A retrospective study in Argentina" published in The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine. In this paper Terson de Paleville and Gatti discuss the current state of neurorehabilitation targeting recovery of gait after incomplete spinal cord injury at the Fleni Institute in particular and Argentina more broadly. We invite you to listen in as Terson de Paleville and Gatti connect Latin America to ASIA both in their science and in our discussion, and trust you will enjoy our multi-lingual conversation on Argentinian gait rehabilitation.

Join us in this episode for a conversation with Matthew Rodreick, Executive Director of Unite 2 Fight Paralysis (U2FP). Matt offers a concise perspective on U2FP, including reflection on interaction between U2FP and ASIA. The thrust of the conversation then moves to the timely topic of state-level funding, with Matt running through success stories from U2FP's Cure Advocacy Network (CAN) and sharing his insider perspective on setting up state funding for spinal cord injury (SCI) research. We hope you enjoy this episode with Matt on the the past, present, and future of U2FP with a unique eye for a novel funding source.

Join us this episode for a conversation with Bharadwaj "Bharad" Nandakumar, PhD, of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, for a conversation about the paper titled "Exercise therapy guides cortical reorganization after midthoracic spinal contusion to enhance control of lower thoracic muscles, supporting functional recovery" published in the journal Experimental Neurology. In this paper Dr. Nandakumar and his team leverage the proven power of somatotopic mapping to examine the less explored area of brain-trunk circuits and the effect that exercise has on recovery of neurological control of the trunk after spinal cord injury. We trust you will enjoy our conversation with Dr. Nandakumar on the important yet often overlooked topic of trunk control and rehabilitation.