Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation

Australasian Spinal Research Trust

                    The Trust is dedicated to finding a cure for paralysis via:

• Promotion and funding of research.

• Fostering co-operation between all disciplines engaged in central nervous system research regeneration and direct relief.

• Monitoring research progress of all scientists who are funded by or through the Trust.

• Co-operation with international efforts in the field.

• Dissemination of information about developments in research.

French Institute for Spinal Cord Research

IRME is a private non profit organization founded in 1984 to promote and support the research on spinal cord injury responsible of the severe disability of 40 000 paraplegic and tetraplegic people in France.

The activity of IRME is to stimulate basic and clinical research in preventing or restoring the lost functions and minimizing the disabilities caused by a spinal cord injury.

IRME has largely contributed, during the 15 past years, towards progress bringing scientists new directions for research and changing the perspective for paralysed people.

International Spinal Research Trust

The purpose of Spinal Research has always been to fund research into the repair of human spinal cord injuries. This research has been very successful, and has now reached the stage where some techniques for partial repair of spinal cord lesions have been demonstrated in animal models. It is probable that if the same techniques could be used in human spinal cord injury patients they would show an improvement in their condition, although not a complete cure. The first trials of these treatments on paralysed people are therefore now being contemplated.

As Europe's major spinal cord injury charity, Spinal Research sees it as its duty to help provide the infrastructure that will be necessary to make it possible for these experimental techniques to be applied to the treatment of paralysed people.

The Trust has started two new initiatives to make this possible; the Research Network and the Clinical Initiative.

Kent Waldrep National Paralysis Foundation

The Miami Project To Cure Paralysis

The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, a Center of Excellence at the University of Miami School of Medicine, is the world's largest, most comprehensive research center dedicated to finding more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for paralysis that results from spinal cord injury.

The Miami Project was founded in 1985 through the vision and dedicated efforts of Dr. Barth Green, an internationally recognized expert in the field of spinal cord injury. National attention focused on the Miami Project following the injury of football legend Nick Buoniconti's son, Marc. The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis raises money exclusively for the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.

The Paralyzed Veterans of America

The Rick Hansen Institute

In August 1997, the Rick Hansen Institute was created to help find a cure for paralysis, and improve the health and quality of life of people with spinal cord injuries. Starting with the $24 million legacy from the Rick Hansen Man In Motion World Tour, Rick and his team, have wisely and successfully managed and created innovative partnerships and programs. As a result, more than $137 Million has been directed to a wide variety of activities including research, rehabilitation, education, awareness and wheelchair sport.

Today, the focus is on accelerating the discovery of a cure for spinal cord injury. Through its leadership, the Institute brings together scientists, philanthropists, governments and private organizations to establish and pursue common goals and priorities, in support of spinal cord injury research. The Institute is a founding member of a consortium of the world's most prominent private spinal cord injury research funders.

Spinal Research Fund of Australia, Inc.

The Spinal Research Unit was set up in 1996 to create clinically useful treatments for people with spinal cord injuries.Their aim is to take current research knowledge from the laboratory into clinical trails. They are working with a plan created by their researchers to do this.
To do this, they have been working with the industry to set up a network of laboratories in Australia. Their hope is that through the laboratories we will discover effective treatments for spinal cord damage and improve people's lives by giving them back some mobility and independence.They are working closely with the Accident Surveillance Unit to produce a team that is capable of designing, implementing and monitoring clinical trials.

Their focus is on three key areas: Raising funds to allow our research to continue;
Further developing our research network to cooperatively work on new treatments; and
Encouraging a neurosurgeon to develop surgical procedures to trial new treatments in humans.