The Spinal Cord Research Centre consists of sixteen principal investigators from six Departments or Schools of the University of Manitoba. These investigators are joined by over sixty research associates, post-doctoral fellows, students and support staff. The Centre was brought into being through a joint effort among the Canadian Paraplegic Association, the Health Sciences Centre Research Foundation and the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Medicine. Its director is Dr. Larry Jordan of the Department of Physiology and was previously co-directed from 1989 to 1997 with Dr. Hyman Dubo of the Section of Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine.

Mission

The mission of the Spinal Cord Research Centre of Winnipeg is to provide an environment for world-class spinal cord research and training. Emphasis is on research into the mechanisms controlling movement, bowel and bladder function, and the effects of training on the nervous system. This knowledge will also provide new clinical tools for the treatment of injury and disease affecting these functional systems.

Objectives

Within the broad scope of spinal cord research:

• broaden the scope of graduate and fellowship training programs through formal and informal interactions with several faculty and laboratories
• consolidate technical support and development of new research tools
• maximize efficiencies by sharing technical and support resources wherever possible
• provide administrative support and encouragement for cooperative (inter-laboratory) research initiatives

The Spinal Cord Research Centre (SCRC) of Winnipeg was formed in 1987 as a partnership between the University of Manitoba, the Health Sciences Centre Research Foundation (now Health Sciences Centre Foundation) and the Canadian Paraplegic Association, Manitoba Division. The Spinal Cord Research Centre concept was reviewed and approved by the Faculty of Medicine Research Committee, and its formation was announced on the occasion of Rick Hansen's stop in Winnipeg on his Man in Motion World Tour to raise funds for spinal cord research. The SCRC was set up for the recruitment of new clinical and basic science faculty and the establishment of new laboratories in which independently funded research could flourish within the Faculty of Medicine. To a large extent these goals have been met. Several nationally and internationally funded laboratories have been set up. There is an active graduate training program, and there has been international recognition of the work carried out at the Centre. With the maturation of SCRC, emphasis has shifted from growth to continuance.

Basic research efforts have evolved from in vivo experiments on adult animal models (members of the SCRC are leaders in the fields of locomotor control and neural control of bladder function) to molecular and cellular approaches made possible by recruitment of faculty (Dr. Schmidt, Dr. D. Nance, Dr. Hochman) and incorporation of existing faculty (Drs. Nagy, Cheng and Geiger) with appropriate expertise.

Clinical research developments have included intrathecal drug studies (Dr. P. Nance and Dr. Schmidt), clinical gait studies (Dr. P. Nance), and clinical treatments for bone density loss after spinal cord injury (Dr. P. Nance), among many others.

The addition of a neurosurgeon to the group (Dr. Brownstone 1995-2000) allowed the development of research efforts designed to bring the basic research of SCRC members into clinical application, particularly for new approaches requiring neurosurgery. This group is unique in the world, and is poised to make further significant advances in the treatment of spinal cord injury and disease. See their areas of expertise for more information.

• Basic neurophysiological and neuropharmacological research on neural systems.
• Determining the neuroactive substances which can be used to control locomotor activity, micturition, and spasticity.
• Evaluating efficacy of intrathecal drug injections and stimulation procedures in human patients for control of movement, bladder function, and sexual function.
• Identification and isolation of the nerve cells responsible for particular behaviours such as locomotion and bladder function.
• Identification and isolation of growth inhibiting and promoting factors, and assessment of techniques for promotion of functional recovery after spinal injury by targeting regeneration strategies to selected functional systems.
• Development of devices and pharmaceutical agents for treatment of neurological injury.

1) The promotion of research interactions within the spinal cord group and the larger neuroscience community. This is achieved through
(a) weekly seminar and journal club meetings,
(b) a visiting scientist program, and
(c) events to promote public awareness of neuroscience research.

2) The maintenance of core technical facilities including software development and electronic equipment design and manufacture. These are now critical functions of the SCRC because the University has closed the faculty electronics support service and the Department of Physiology has discontinued its electronics technician position. The software for the analysis of electrophysiology data, which was developed by SCRC staff (used in 7 labs), has been a small source of income from sale of this software to investigators in other institutions. Therefore, software upgrade and maintenance is an ongoing function with broader implications.

3) A spinal cord training program. This includes the training of graduates students within projects spanning more than one laboratory and with extensive co-supervision. In addition, courses have been developed specifically for the trainees. An example is computational neuroscience taught by Dr. Bashor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Dr. Bashor was an SCRC funded visiting scientist and continues to collaborate with members of the group. In addition, Dr. McCrea has developed two electronics instrumentation courses (90:731, 90:732) tailored to the needs of spinal cord investigators. These courses are also attended by visiting scientists and post doctoral fellows.

4) A coordinating central office with one administrative assistant for the promotion of lectures, arranging visiting scientists, administration of shared CIHR Group Grant and NIH grants, maintenance of information systems, providing secretarial support to the faculty, staff and trainees of SCRC, and to the Neuroscience Research Group.

Currently, the primary/core members hold positions and research labs in the Department of Physiology. Future growth will likely expand outside the confines of Physiology, and the Faculty of Medicine. For example, Drs. Karen Ethans (Section of Rehabilitation Medicine), Michelle Porter and Phillip Gardiner (Faculty of Physical Education and Leisure Studies) are new members with primary academic appointments outside of Physiology.

Dr. Porter heads up the Neuromuscular Performance and Aging Laboratory at the Health, Human Leisure and Performance Research Institute located at the Fort Garry Campus. Dr. Gardiner, who begins his appointment July 1, 2002, as the Director of the HLHP Research Institute and Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity & Health Studies, has been given an adjunct appointment with no teaching commitments in the Department of Physiology to set up a new state-of-the art Neuromuscular (spinal cord) Physiology Laboratory, conjoining with the SCRC group. His lab will be located in Physiology.

Dr. Dean Kriellaars heads up the Human Performance lab in the School of Medical Rehabilitation with cross-appointments in School of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Recreation, and Departments of Physiology and Surgery.

Dr. Fedirchuk, who was hired in a tenure track position in July 2000 in Physiology, is the newest recipient of a CFI grant to set up a Neural-Imaging, Electrophysiology, and Cellular-Perfusion Facility. Some of this equipment will be integrated into the shared SCRC histology/imaging facility.

The primary core members of the SCRC are responsible for much of the basic neuroscience teaching in medicine. Thus in addition to their graduate training responsibilities, McCrea, Shefchyk, Jordan, Schmidt and Fedirchuk are key to the delivery of the medical curriculum. The recent 25% increase in medical class size creates a significant imposition on spinal cord research activities. Without recruitment, research programs within the SCRC will suffer. The two positions that urgently need filling are a basic scientist interested in spinal cord development and regeneration, and a clinician scientist (preferably a neurosurgeon) to take research developments into the clinic. We expect that these individuals would be recruited directly into existing University departments. We would hope that members of the SCRC would be called upon to identify suitable applicants and assist with their integration into research programs within the SCRC.

• The SCRC will help to identify and recruit new researchers to the University of Manitoba.
• The SCRC will facilitate obtaining new funding opportunities through formal collaborations, e.g. SCRC members currently hold NIH and CIHR group grants (2000, 2001)
• The scope of spinal cord research at the University of Manitoba involves members of Rehabilitation Medicine, Neurology, Physiology, Physical Education, as well as the National Research Council (Institute of Biodiagnostics). The SCRC helps to bring these disciplines and individuals together.

Since 1987, the SCRC and its members have grown to become recognized as a leading international research centre of excellence in the field of spinal cord research, comparable to leading international counterparts. The SCRC is clearly in harmony with the University of Manitoba's strategic plan for research, as articulated in the Task Force report "Building on Strengths":

1. Centre recognition. The Spinal Cord Research Centre is one of only a handful of full-scale spinal cord research centres in the world. It includes clinician-scientists in neurology, neurosurgery, pathology, and medical rehabilitation, as well as basic scientists in essential related fields. It holds a unique place among these international centres, because it includes a high proportion of both clinicians and basic scientists who are making contributions to the core knowledge required for restoration of function after injury.

2. Success of SCRC Core Members in CIHR, NIH and CFI competitions
Total funding held by the Primary (Core) Members has increased from $688,871 in 2000/2001 to $1,305,680 in 2001/2002 with the addition of the two NIH grants awarded to McCrea/Shefchyk and Jordan/Brownstone/Schmidt/Duckworth (2001-2004) and renewal of a CIHR Group grant (Jordan/McCrea/Shefchyk/Schmidt) (2000-2005) awarded to support SCRC Core research personnel salaries of Programmer/Systems Analyst, Electronics Technician, Graphics Technician, Histology Tech. The two newest primary members, Drs. Fedrichuk and Gardiner, each received a CFI grant awarded January 2002.

3. International competitiveness of SCRC is indicated by the Sources of Funding which include the U.S. National Institutes of Health, among many others. Overall, eleven SCRC members hold CIHR grants, one CIHR group grant is held by the Core members, and four NIH grants have been awarded, of which two are held by the Core members.

4. Respect and recognition earned by members of the SCRC. Indicated by their selection for membership in and leadership of national and international grant review committees, by their selection for membership on the Editorial Boards of important neuroscience journals, and by the fact that their expertise is sought in the manuscript review process of major neuroscience journals.

5. The SCRC labs have attracted collaborations and visiting scientists for joint research efforts from across Canada, eg. Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal; and internationally, from , Australia, Britain, Denmark, France, Japan, Mexico, Sweden and the United States. Most of the collaborators are established, leading scientists in their area of expertise.

6. Members of the SCRC constantly pursued by other institutions as potential recruits. This is a very clear indication of the recognition that SCRC members have achieved. Recent losses in 1999 have been Dr. Shawn Hochman (recruited to Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia) and Dr. Patricia Nance (recruited to Veterans Affairs Medical Centre, Long Beach, California), and in 2000, Dr. Rob Brownstone (recruited to Dalhousie University); the latter two have retained External Adjunct appointments in the Department of Physiology to continue ongoing research collaborations with SCRC.

7. National and international recognition indicated by over 100 invitations to SCRC members to speak at symposia and to lecture at other institutions (1996-2001), 22 in 2000-2001.

8. International symposia and national meetings. SCRC members were key figures in the organization of six international symposia and two national meetings in the last 5 years.

9. Publication record. SCRC Full Members have published a total of 159 refereed papers during the period from 1996-2001 and most of these have appeared in some of the top journals in the field.

10. Patents. Several members of the SCRC have been successful in the development of intellectual property (Cheng, Nagy, D Nance), software (Jordan, Kriellaars) and devices for rehabilitation (Kriellaars, P Nance).

11. Trainees and alumni of the SCRC have been recruited to some of the top academic institutions in the world, including the University of Miami, University of Louisville, University of British Columbia, Emory University, University of North Dakota, University College London, and well as the University of Manitoba.

1. Organization structure

1.1 Facility,

Faculty: Medicine
Primary/Core member laboratories and appointments: Department of Physiology
Location: 4th Floor, Basic Medical Sciences Building, Bannatyne Campus

1.2 Administative Unit

University of Manitoba Telephone: (204) 789-3761
Department of Physiology Facsimile: (204) 789-3930
730 William Avenue, BMSB 436 E-mail: info@scrc.umanitoba.ca
Winnipeg, Canada R3E 3J7 Website: http://www.scrc.umanitoba.ca

1.3 Personnel

Director: Dr. Larry M. Jordan, Professor, Dept. of Physiology
Acting Director: Dr. David A. McCrea, Professor, Dept. of Phsyiology
Faculty members: 12 Full Members (6 Primary, 6 Secondary) and 6 Associate Members
Research Associates: 5 post-PhD, 1 RN (Statstics for full members only)
Postdoctoral Fellows: 2
Ph.D. Students: 7
Masters Students: 11
Technicial Support Staff: 11
Admin/Secretarial Staff: 1

1.4 Role of Director

The Director shall be administratively responsible for the research unit, providing direction and general supervision over the operation of the unit and its research and training programs, including preparation of annual/progress reports, holding information and planning meetings with any or all members and staff, the Dean of Medicine, Office of Research Services, Public Affairs, government, funding agencies and the general media, as required. The current incumbant is Dr. Larry Jordan. A change in director would be appointed by concensus of the SCRC members with approval by the Dean of Medicine.

1.5 Committees

Internal Advisory - the primary/core members shall share in the responsibility of supervising and directing core staff in the shared facilities and participate in budget planning and decision-making in overall direction of the SCRC operation, programs and services.

External Advisory - composed of representatives from parties that have a vested interest in the research unit, responsible for reviewing annual progress, normally 1) Dean of Medicine, 2) Executive Director of Canadian Paraplegic Association (MB), 3) Board member of Manitoba Paraplegia Foundation, 4) Head of Section of Rehab Medicine, and 5) Director of Research, HSC.

SCRC Visiting Scientist Program - SCRC endeavours to host 1-3 visiting scientist lectures each year, of which one may be co-sponsored with the Winnipeg Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience and the Society for Neuroscience Grass Travelling Scientist Program, and one every 3 years co-sponsored with the Univ. of Manitoba Viktor Havlicek Memorial Lecture Fund (co-ordinated by the Director).

SCRC Journal Club - ongoing weekly. Currently coordinated by Dr. B. Fedirchuk.

Neuroscience Seminar Series (Resident speaker program) - resuming Fall 2002. Currently coordinated by Dr. S. Shefchyk.

2. Categories of Membership

A. Full Members

Full Members are defined as either "Primary/Core" or "Secondary" as follows, and hold a faculty appointment at the University of Manitoba:
"Primary/Core Members" contribute substantial effort to SCRC research and contribute to the SCRC program from their operating grants.
"Secondary Members" contribute substantial effort to SCRC research but provide no financial support of overall program.

B. Associate Members

An Associate is a faculty member, including external adjunct, who is interested in spinal cord research, but whose primary research effort is in another neuroscience discipline (i.e. NDRG) or is performed at an external institution (i.e. Dr. Brownstone at Dalhousie U.)

2 External Adjuncts: formerly full members who have been recruited elsewhere but continue research collaborations with SCRC members

4 NDRG Members: primary research effort is in Neurodegenerative Disease Research but conduct research collaborations with SCRC members

3. Procedures for appointments

The selection of faculty appointees for membership in the Centre is decided by verbal concensus of the primary/core members. The suggestion for membership may come from an SCRC member or an external party, the invitation from the Director.

4. Privileges and responsibilities of membership

• All members must hold an academic appointment at the University of Manitoba and be actively conducting and/or supporting basic research and/or clinical studies on functional systems of the spinal cord.
• All members shall benefit from the visiting speaker program, journal club and resident seminars, and information network systems coordinated by the administrative unit office.
• Primary/core members who contribute financially from their external grants to the SCRC program shall have access to shared personnel and research facilities.
• Members shall participate in regular informal meetings to review progress on individual and group projects and plan future endeavours.
• Members shall participate in fundraising, public relations and media events for the benefit of the overall SCRC program.

1. Past History

The Centre, established in January 1987, received the following funding support to establish, develop and maintain the Neuroscience Research Program, including the Spinal Cord Research Centre, at the University of Manitoba and Health Sciences Centre:

1987 - 1999 $4,848,854 from the Health Sciences Centre Foundation. Most of these funds were for the purpose of recruiting new neuroscience faculty over a seven-year period, of which three positions are now fully funded by university and/or HSC. These funds also covered major equipment, renovations and the operation of the SCRC.

1987 - 2001 $335,000 from the Manitoba Paraplegia Foundation and the Will to Win Scholarship fund which MPF administers for academic salary support.

1999/2001 $406,000 bridge funding from The Province of Manitoba (Health)

2000/2001 $95,000 from the University of Manitoba President and Dean of Medicine to support two key personnel - Research Associate (Jordan Lab) and SCRC administrative secretary (OA5) - which had been previously funded under the HSCF contract agreement.

2. Current

The SCRC program has attracted and established leading investigators in spinal cord research. The incorporation of these individuals into University departments and their emergence as leaders within the faculty is but one example of the positive benefits of the SCRC to the University.

External Funding

As at April 1, 2002, the total annual amount held by Primary/Core members for the current operating year (2002/2003) is $1,320,729.

Manitoba Paraplegia Foundation

MPF have provided an annual scholarship award since 1987 through the Will to Win Annual Golf Classic fundraiser, whose mandate it is to provide scholarship support for an SCRC investigator who holds an academic appointment, preferably a new recruit, or other suitable member as named by the SCRC director. These funds had been formerly used to supplement academic salary appointments, and are now used for special academic appointments (eg. research associate).

Private Funding

The University of Manitoba "Spinal Cord Research" donations account was set up in March, 1999, for receipt of private donations made in the memorial category, a few from all-charities campaigns run annually by corporations or employee organizations. Dr. Jordan has responded to over 100 donors with a personal thank you letter which the Private Funding Office forwards along with the tax donation receipt and acknowledgement card from the UM.

Software Sales Income

The Software Income Account was set up in January 1997 to collect income from the sale of the Data Capture and Analysis Software developed at the Spinal Cord Research Centre. This software for nervous system data capture and analysis has a sale value of CAD 7,000 for Linux users. Copies have been sold to researchers in Denmark, Sweden, USA, Japan, and Canada, with the most recent sale made in April 2001. The funds held in this account are used to subsidize development and maintenance of the software.

3. Future

The likelihood of attracting future external funding is very high, based on the proven track record of the SCRC members. Some of the important factors are listed below:

A. Salary support

• All academic members hold tenure track or GFT appointments
• Technical staff have been continuously supported from external grant funds over a 15-year period, and are currently funded through to 2004/2005

B. Research grant funding

• A 15+-year history of successful grant funding and publication record of the primary/core members and other SCRC members, not only for individual operating grants but group grants as well, of which the CIHR's are in the renewable category

C. MPF (WTW)

• Likely renewable
• MPF and the Canadian Paraplegia Association (Manitoba Division) have been a funding partner of SCRC since its inception and are committed to continuing its support in the form of an annual scholarship award (WTW) to a named SCRC investigator

D. Private Funding

• There is definitely the potential for increase in receipt of private donations, which could be further developed under the guidance of the UM Public Relations Office, by promoting awareness of the SCRC research program through advertising to business corporations and employee organizations, and on the UM/SCRC website.

E. Software Sales Income

• The software for the analysis of electrophysiology data that SCRC has developed is in use in 7 laboratories in Winnipeg and has been sold to 7 other investigators in 5 countries. Software development (programmer-analysts salary) was funded through general SCRC funds and is a continuing effort. Thus this individual fulfills a function broader than the maintenance of grant-related software. It is hoped that future software sales can contribute to the programmer salary.

Canadian Association for Neuroscience - University of B.C., U. Alberta, U. Calgary, U. Toronto, McGill U., U. Montréal

Human Frontier Science Program - U. Tsukuba (Japan), U. Copenhagen (DK)

This web site was set up to provide information about the research underway at the Spinal Cord Research Centre primarily to prospective students, postdoctoral trainees and research collaborators, as well as potential funders or partners interested in supporting spinal cord research in Manitoba .