The State of the Science in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Rehabilitation: Informing a New Research Agenda

Preconference to The 2011 International Conference on Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation
June 4-8, 2011, Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel, Washington, D.C., USA, Presented by
The International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) celebrating its 50th Anniversary, and
The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA)

2020: Vision for SCI Rehabilitation Research

CONFERENCE SUMMARY

Purpose: Develop an agenda for spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation research in the next decade by identifying research questions that must be answered to implement improved programs, practices, and policies for individuals with spinal cord injuries.

Strategy: Examine cutting edge innovations and research findings; and identify the additional research that must be conducted to develop the potential of the findings; and facilitate using the findings to assist individuals with spinal cord injury in achieving their goals.

Target Audience: Researchers, funders, policymakers, clinicians, consumers and their families.

Objectives: By the end of this conference, participants will be able to:

1. Review the latest technology and research findings that will affect the future of SCI care;
2. Describe the key steps needed to implement these technologies or other interventions;
3. Identify the barriers that might impede implementation of promising technologies and findings and suggest ways to overcome these barriers;
4. Identify the research steps needed to ensure adoption of or to build on the findings
5. Participate in shaping the research agenda for the next decade;
6. Anticipate how SCI care may change based upon the adoption of these research findings; and
7. Anticipate the effects of these changes on consumers with SCI.

Anticipated Outcomes

1. A set of papers defining the state-of-the-science in SCI rehabilitation research
2. Summary of research agenda and related discussion.

Conference Format: Keynote address, plenary sessions, concurrent tracks, small group work sessions and large group reporting session (see next page).

Sponsors: The meeting is sponsored by multiple public and private entities including the SCI Model Systems, the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Spinal Cord Injury, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the DoD Clinical and Rehabilitative Medicine Research Program (CRMRP) and Combat Casualty Care Research Program (CCCRP).

** Speaker bios

SCI-SOS Schedule June 5-7, 2011

* specific times will be coordinated with the overall conference program (start/stop, breaks, lunch, ending, etc.).

 

Conference Content: Four topical tracks and their respective chairs are:

1. Neurologic and Functional Recovery (chair: John Steeves)
2. Aging and Secondary Conditions (chairs: Suzanne Groah, Ivan R. Molton)
3. Technology for Mobility and Function (chair: Michael Boninger)
4. Psychosocial, Vocational and Quality of Life Outcomes (chair: Allen Heinemann)

Individuals desiring to participate in the SOS conference are strongly encouraged to read the papers below, prior to the discussions on Monday June 6. You may also enter recommendations for future research through the track-specific links below.

Morning Plenary Speaker: Gary Karp -
"A view from the past with an eye on the future: A 38-year perspective on rehabilitation" (link)

Lunch Plenary Speaker: James Fawcett -
"Recovery of function after spinal cord injury: Reactivation of plasticity and enabling effective rehabilitation" (link)

Introduction to the SOS

Recommendations for SCI Rehabilitation Research

Track 1: Neurologic and Functional Recovery
Paper:	The Translational Dialogue in Spinal Cord Injury Research
Paper:	Spinal Cord Injury and Physical Activity: Transforming Rehabilitation
--> Link:	Enter recommendations here for Track 1
Track 2: Aging and Secondary Conditions
Paper:	Epidemiology of spinal cord injury: trends and future implications
Paper:	Secondary health conditions in individuals aging with SCI: Terminology, concepts and analytic approaches
--> Link:	Enter recommendations here for Track 2
Track 3: Technology for Mobility and Function
Paper:	Technology for Mobility in SCI Ten Years From Now
	Editorial: Technology for Mobility in SCI Ten Years From Now
--> Link:	Enter recommendations here for Track 3
Track 4: Psychosocial, Vocational and Quality of Life Outcomes
Paper:	Opportunities for Research to Improve Employment for People with Spinal Cord Injuries
Paper:	Psychosocial Issues in Spinal Cord Injury: What Do We (Not) Know?
--> Link:	Enter recommendations here for Track 4

For more information, contact: Lesley_Hudson@shepherd.org or Arthur.Sherwood@ed.gov

ASIA/ISCoS dates are 4-8 June 2011; the SOS Conference 5-7 June, 2011.