SCI Science Perspectives

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 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 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 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.

Join us this episode for a conversation with Dr. James D. Guest, MD, PhD, of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, for a conversation about the paper titled "Non-invasive spinal cord electrical stimulation for arm and hand function in chronic tetraplegia: a safety and efficacy trial" published in the journal Nature Medicine. This paper is the culmination of commercialization efforts to bring to market a transcutaneous ("noninvasive") electrical spinal cord simulator for the purpose of recover of upper extremity motor strength. We trust you will enjoy our conversation with Dr. Guest, who was a site-Principal Investigator (PI) for the Up-LIFT trial sponsored by Onward Medical Inc., in the timely wake of the exciting FDA approval of the now-titled ARC-EX® device that was studied in this pivotal clinical trial.

Join us for the episode for a conversation with Drs. Ona Bloom and Adam Stein on the topic of including people living with spinal cord injury (SCI) in the medical education (MD) curriculum. In this conversation we discuss the paper titled "Experiences and recommendations from people with spinal cord injury following participation in a disability education session at an allopathic medical school: a qualitative study" published in the journal Spinal Cord Series and Cases. We hope you enjoy this exploration of the important topic of lived-experience consultation in medical education, with Drs. Ona Bloom and Adam Stein.

The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) founded and now develops the International Standards for the Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) exam, more commonly known as the "ASIA exam." This exam, which assigns a level and "completeness" of SCI, is the most common neurological exam performed in those with SCI. The most recent updates included the addition of zone of partial preservation (ZPP) and a "non-SCI taxonomy" (listen in to learn what that means 😁). We hope you enjoy this this deep dive on the most recent update to the ISNCSCI, with Dr. Rudiger Rupp.