Spinal Research is committed to funding the highest quality international research into a cure for spinal cord paralysis. We support both basic science and clinical research and aim to increase research capacity by encouraging talented young graduates into the field through our PhD studentships.

Research may be centred at the bench but to be productive requires collaboration and a healthy exchange of ideas. We facilitate this by bringing our scientists together every year at our Annual Network Meetings, the first in this field, and publish an Annual Research Review – a compilation of reports from our grant holders – documenting their most recent developments.

We continually encourage international cooperation of effort and as a founding member of the ICCP (International Campaign for Cures of spinal cord injury Paralysis) we have been instrumental in bringing essential guidelines on the conduct of safe and effective clinical trials for spinal cord injury.

The Trust boasts an internationally-recognised Scientific Committee who guide our scientific strategy and preside over a peer-review process that ensures awards are made only to the highest quality research projects. Spinal Research recognises that for complex multisystem diseases and pathologies, such as spinal cord injury, it is sometimes necessary to use animals as part of the overall research endeavour.

Spinal Research is aware of the responsibility that this places on it to ensure, whenever possible, alternatives to the use of animals are explored. All laboratories must hold a certificate issued by the Home Office and have gained approval for their work from a local ethical and animal welfare committee before any work involving the use of animals is permitted.