Did you know that British Columbia has a world leading research centre focussing on spinal cord injuries? ICORD, the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, is located in the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre at Vancouver General Hospital. ICORD’s mission is to conduct research and training to promote prevention, functional recovery, and improved quality of life after spinal cord injury (SCI).
You Can Participate in Research
People with spinal cord injuries are invited to participate in the many research projects underway through ICORD. Some of the studies involve physical activity. For example one study is looking at the effect of following international exercise guidelines for six months. Other studies involve medical treatments or procedures, like the study investigating the impact of intermittent catheterization on the health of people with SCI, specifically related to urinary tract infections and episodes of autonomic dysreflexia. A lot of the research done through ICORD is survey-based, so you don’t even have to be in the Lower Mainland to participate. Researchers are looking for input on a variety of issues from both people with spinal cord injuries as well as from family caregivers.
Check out the ICORD website through the link below to find out what studies are underway, and which ones you might be able to participate in. Each study includes a description that lets you know the goals of the study and who is eligible to participate. Why should you get involved in research? By contributing to research, you can help make the world a better place for everybody with a spinal cord injury. But don’t take our word for it. Five people who have participated in ICORD research studies were interviewed about their experiences. Most of these people have participated in multiple studies, in some cases so many that they can’t remember them all. You can view that video on the ICORD website, or through the link below.
Keep Informed
Through the ICORD website you can keep up with the latest research and developments about spinal cord injuries. You can subscribe to the ICORDian, the quarterly community newsletter that highlights topics of interest to those with SCI and their loved ones.
In addition to the newsletter, the ICORD Resource Centre publishes easy-to-understand summaries of ICORD scientific papers on the SCInfo blog. This blog translates scientific literature on various SCI related topics into easy-to-understand summaries for those of us without a science background. Each summary captures the main ideas from research articles published by investigators at ICORD or elsewhere.
Contact us
At Pacific Medical Law, we are committed to helping those who have suffered life-altering injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury or other injury that may have been caused or worsened by medical negligence, please contact us to discuss your concerns. We will provide you with our opinion on your legal rights and options, for no charge.
ICORD Links:
Listen to study participants: https://youtu.be/T5XB9ysI4cI
Find a study: Participate in a Study | ICORD
Subscribe to the newsletter: Newsletters | ICORD
Keep up-to-date with the SCInfo blog: SCInfo
