U of L profs get $6.3 million to continue spinal cord research

Susan Harkema, a University of Louisville professor, talks
about epidural spinal stimulation. Courier-Journal photo.

Two University of Louisville professors have received a $6.3 million grant to continue their work helping paralyzed patients restore movement by using electrical stimulation.

The grant was awarded to Susan Harkema and Dr. Jonathan Hodes from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

Last year, they received much acclaim when they published a study in the journal The Lancet "showing that the use of continual, direct, electrical stimulation of a patient's lower spinal cord using technology designed for pain relief can allow a person using a wheelchair to stand and bear weight," reports Laura Ungar for The Courier-Journal.

With these new grant funds, Harkema said they will "be able to built a stimulator that will allow the individual to take advantage of these advances in their homes and communities."

One of the initial case studies involved Rob Summers, a former baseball player from Oregon who was paralyzed below the chest after a car accident. After the therapy, he was able to get to a standing position and stand as long as four minutes. "He was also able to take steps with help and move his toes, ankles, knees and hips." Harkema said he continues to improve.

Nationwide, more than 5 million Americans live with some type of paralysis, and more than 1.3 million have spinal-cord injuries. (Read more)

U of L spinal cord center brings in $13.7 million in 2011, $64.1 million since 2000

The University of Louisville's spinal cord scientists attracted more than $13.7 million in outside funding in 2011 alone, and have brought in a total of $64.1 million since 2000.

"This is tangible evidence of our effort to become a nationally recognized premier metropolitan research university," said U of L President James Ramsey. "We have taken the investment that the state has made in our program, brought in the best researchers to work on spinal cord injury, and begun to help people."

One major success story was that of Rob Summers, who played college baseball in Oregon and was paralyzed below the chest after a car accident in 2006. "In May, a team from U of L and two California universities announced that they had used electrical stimulation and rehabilitation to help (him) stand and take steps with assistance — a breakthrough with implications for millions of paralyzed people around the world," reports Laura Ungar of The Courier-Journal. (Read more)

U of L, Frazier get $2.2 million for spinal treatment, research

The Frazier Rehab Institute and the University of Louisville have received $2.2 million for spinal cord research and treatment. The grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, is one of 14 awarded in the country.

The funds will be used to operate the Frazier Rehab and Neuroscience Spinal Cord Injury Model System, which will advance rehabilitative care to people with spinal cord injuries and "be the center of new research in which findings are rapidly translated into clinical and rehabilitation practice," a U of L press release reads.

The model system will serve Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee, and the funds will be used over a five-year period. Goals of the program will be to provide integrated, multidisciplinary rehabilitation care for people with spinal cord injuries; conduct research; and enroll at least 30 patients per year into the model system database, information that will be shared with the other 13 model system centers that will be established around the country.

Daniel E. Graves, who is an associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Institute of Rehabilitation and Research in Houston, will come to U of L to lead the undertaking. "The model system is a basic framework for building a research network that can capitalize on the expertise of our current faculty," said Graves, right. "It also will enable us to draw in more scientists to work with us, ultimately bettering the lives of people with spinal cord injury." (Read more)