The International Spinal Research Trust's strategic approach to the development of treatments for the repair of spinal cord injury

Abstract

The International Spinal Research Trust (ISRT) has selected a sub-set of the key molecular and cellular events underlying spinal injury and nerve regeneration, to be the focus of their funding and other means of research support. These priority targets are (i) to understand and to minimise the damage caused by spinal injury and the resulting inflammatory and fibrotic events, in order to prevent the establishment of a post-acute situation that is ill-placed for regeneration; and (ii) to understand and then to manipulate the integrated environment for regrowth that is created by the interplay of soluble and matrix- or membrane-associated factors, both trophic and inhibitory. Investigation and, ultimately, exploitation of these targets requires the development of standardised and representative animal models and the application of quantitative methods for assessing functional re-innervation. The ISRT will also sponsor the networking of different disciplines and technologies to apply the most productive skills to spinal repair.