Meeting Proceedings for SCI 2020: Launching a Decade of Disruption in Spinal Cord Injury Research

JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA, 2021 · DOI: 10.1089/neu.2020.7174 · Published: May 1, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Neurology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

The spinal cord injury (SCI) research community has experienced great advances in discovery research, technology development, and promising clinical interventions in the past decade. To build upon these advances and maximize the beneﬁt to persons with SCI, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) hosted a conference February 12–13, 2019 titled ‘‘SCI 2020: Launching a Decade of Disruption in Spinal Cord Injury Research.’’ The purpose of the conference was to bring together a broad range of stakeholders, including researchers, clinicians and healthcare professionals, persons with SCI, industry partners, regulators, and funding agency representatives to break down existing communication silos. In this report, we summarize the state of the science in each of ﬁve key domains and identify the gaps in the scientiﬁc literature that need to be addressed to move the ﬁeld forward.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Broad range of stakeholders including researchers, clinicians, persons with SCI, industry partners, regulators, and funding agency representatives

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The conference highlighted the importance of addressing recent progress and current gaps in SCI research, providing opportunities for collaboration, and identifying top SCI research priorities.
2
Key scientific domains identified include opportunities in the acute post-injury phase, innovating repair in subacute/chronic periods, community activity and priorities, neuromodulation, and health/secondary effects of chronic SCI.
3
Consumer feedback emphasized the need for involvement in research priority setting and project design, a common language among stakeholders, and a focus on both acute and chronic injuries.

Research Summary

In these proceedings of the SCI 2020 conference, we summarized the state of the science in each of six key domains based on input from thought leaders in each of these areas. Preservation and restoration of physical functioning, health, and wellness were the dominant themes of the conference, given that these represent priorities of persons with SCI and affect community participation. The SCI 2020 conference was a valuable forum for interaction among clinicians, consumers, researchers, industry associates, and funding agency representatives.

Practical Implications

Early Intervention Strategies

Implement acute care protocols similar to Code Stroke, focusing on rapid assessment, treatment, and specialized trauma center transport.

Consumer-Centered Research

Involve people with lived experience of SCI in all phases of research, from priority setting to dissemination of findings.

Technology Development & Accessibility

Develop and improve assistive devices and technologies to promote independence, recovery, and address secondary complications.

Study Limitations

1
The scope of topics discussed in the SCI 2020 meeting was broad
2
Social determinants of health, skin health, pain, respiratory function, spasticity, tendon and nerve transfers, bone density, psychological well-being, aging, children’s needs, and the inﬂuence of healthcare coverage policies are among the many areas that deserve additional consideration.
3
Limited representation of persons with disability in studies of general healthcare has negative implications for persons with SCI.

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