ICORD is a world leading health research centre focused on spinal cord injury, located at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) in the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, and is supported by the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. From the lab-based cellular level of understanding injury to rehabilitation and recovery, ICORD researchers are dedicated to the development and translation of more effective strategies to promote prevention, functional recovery, and improved quality of life after spinal cord injury (SCI).
There are many ways you can participate in ICORD research. Participants with and without spinal cord injuries are often needed for clinical, behavioural, and rehab studies. There are many studies currently recruiting participants. ICORD’s study liaisons, Ali and Sam, can work with you to narrow down what studies you may be eligible for. Over a short phone call, the study liaison will ask you questions about your research interests as well as common study inclusion and exclusion criteria. From there, you will receive a tailored list of research studies along with details of each study and contact information to get involved. You can connect with Ali or Sam via email to begin your consultation.
PARC is a community-based research facility located within ICORD at VGH in the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre. PARC is led by ICORD researchers and an Advisory Committee made up of members from ICORD, SCI BC, GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre and the UBC School of Kinesiology Outreach Program. The facility is committed to providing opportunities for the local spinal cord injury community to participate in research on exercise and physical activity. Most of the exercise equipment at PARC can be used directly from your wheelchair or are easily transferable from your wheelchair. In addition to in-person workout sessions, PARC offers virtual training sessions (both free and paid offerings).
If you are interested in joining PARC, please check out the getting started page. You can also connect with PARC via phone (604-675-8814) or email for more information. Please also see this FAQ page.
Clinical Trials
For people with SCI, their families, friends, and caregivers, the decision to receive an experimental treatment or enter a clinical trial is a challenging one. To establish a set of guidelines for the design and conduct of both valid and ethnical clinical trials for SCI, an expert panel of researchers and doctors with extensive scientific and clinical experience in spinal cord injury was formed in 2004. The panel, originally supported through the ICCP (International Campaign for Cures for spinal cord injury Paralysis), developed a set of 4 papers outlining the guidelines for the conduct of spinal cord injury clinical trials, which were published in Nature journal, Spinal Cord. In addition to these peer-reviewed publications, the panel summarized these guidelines in an easy-to-read booklet. A revised and updated version of the booklet was published in June 2021 titled, Experimental treatments for spinal cord injuries: what you should know. A guide for people living with spinal cord injuries, their families, friends and health care professionals. A link to the booklet can be found here.
If you decide you would like to participate in a clinical trial…
SCI Trials Finder is a user-friendly website that matches people with SCI and clinical trials. The website helps people to easily locate, understand and participate in clinical trials that fit their situation. The SCI Trials Finder database is carefully organized by experienced clinical investigators, with written information provided in easily understood language. The site also provides seamless contact to trial locations and personnel through a secure form and without registration.
SCIRE provides up-to-date, accurate information about the effects of rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injuries.
SCIRE staff review and rate the research on SCI and put the results online, eliminating the need to search and screen individual databases. The main SCIRE site, now called SCIRE Professional includes 28 Rehabilitation and 6 Acute Chapters, 120+ Outcome Measures assessed, and 1000s of articles reviewed and rated, primarily as a resource for health professionals and researchers. The partner website SCIRE Community aims to bring evidence-informed information about SCI to the larger community of people living with SCI, their family members, and the public. SCIRE Community is written in everyday language, provides more background information, and explains the science behind the researcher.
You can follow SCIRE on X (@SCIREProject) or (@SCIRECommunity), and on Facebook (@SCIRE Community).
SCI BC is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people living with SCI (and related disabilities) and their families have the support and knowledge they need to live well and be active participants in their community.
The main SCI BC website provides a variety of answers, information, and unique community experiences relevant to people with SCI and their families. They operate two core programs – Peer Support Services and Information Services. The Peer Program provides social connections and unique life experiences to individuals with a spinal cord injury or a related disability, and their families and friends. This program also provides peer mentoring opportunities, so that people with new injuries can benefit from the wisdom and knowledge gained by those who have experience living with a similar disability. The Info Centre helps people access all kinds of information relevant to living well with a SCI (accessible housing, meaningful employment, special equipment, etc.).
In addition to searching the online SCI BC Info Database, you can connect with SCI BC Info Line toll-free, Monday to Friday via phone (1-800-689-2477) or email. You can follow SCI BC on X (@SCI_BC), Facebook (@Spinal Cord Injury BC) or sign up for their monthly newsletter.
Praxis Spinal Cord Institute is a Vancouver-based not-for-profit organization that leads global collaboration in spinal cord injury research, innovation and care. We accelerate the translation of discoveries and best practices into improved treatments for people with spinal cord injuries. We advance research and innovation worldwide through networks of international researchers, health care professionals, clinical trials, entrepreneurs, investors, and people with lived experience (PLEX).
