Dr. John Kramer

Principal Investigator

B.Sc. [Kinesiology] (University of Calgary)
M.Sc. [Neuroscience] (University of Western Ontario)
Ph.D. [Neuroscience] (University of British Columbia)
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia

 

Research Interests

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Dr. Kramer’s current research interests are focused on understanding the relationships between spinal cord injuries and neuropathic pain. Historically, pain has been measured from “yes or no” scores generated from pinprick stimulation. This approach, however, represents only one way that peripheral touch can be interpreted by the spinal cord sensory pathway. Dr. Kramer has made several important contributions to the validation of a newer technique known as Contact Heat Evoked Potential stimulation (CHEPs). CHEPs provides recordings of electrical signals reaching the brain, allowing complementary information regarding the spinal cord sensory pathway to be identified.

As part of Dr. Kramer’s ongoing research program, advanced neuroimaging and quantitative sensory testing techniques will continue to be developed to better understand how changes in the central nervous system (CNS) relate to the development of neuropathic pain. Using large SCI datasets, he is exploring the relationship between pain, neurological recovery, and other secondary health outcomes (e.g., cardiovascular disease). His research program will enable implementation of novel interventions aimed at improving outcomes and quality of life for people with SCI.

On September 1, 2020, Dr. Kramer became an Assistant Professor with the Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia. He majored in Kinesiology for his B.Sc. undergraduate degree major at the University of Calgary, and then turned his focus to neuroscience for graduate research. He obtained a M.Sc. degree from the University of Western Ontario and completed his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Kramer spent the next two years as a postdoctoral fellow, first at the Spinal Cord Injury Center in Uniklinic Balgrist (University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland), and then as a Senior Research Fellow at the Hulse Spinal Cord Injury Laboratory in the Shepherd Center (Atlanta, Georgia, USA). From 2014 to 2020, he was an Assistant Professor in UBC’s School of Kinesiology.

Dr. Kramer says he enjoys his time at ICORD because of the diverse research interests among principal investigators and trainees.  He adds that “there are not many facilities like ICORD in the world, where international experts are brought together in preclinical and clinical SCI research. With the expertise and facilities all in one building, it is an amazing opportunity to perform the highest level of research.”

Recent Collaborations:

Dr. Kramer is working closely with Dr. Corree Laule to integrate advanced anatomical MRI into the assessment of damage in the spinal cord after injury. The goal of this collaboration is to leverage Dr. Laule’s experience in the field of Multiple Sclerosis, and translate new imaging techniques into the field of SCI. He hopes to begin collecting data in individuals with SCI in the next few months. He also has collaborations with colleagues at the University Hospital Balgrist in Zurich, Switzerland. Dr. Kramer is a member of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and the Hugill Anesthesia Research Centre.

Major Findings:

Dr. Kramer’s research has repeatedly shown that spinal cord sensory pathways can be examined with a variety of quantitative techniques sensitive to minor changes in sensory impairments. Furthermore, his work using evoked potentials has shown improved potential for tracking changes in sensory function corresponding to individual spinal segments.  He is in the process of finalizing plans for his next phase of research efforts with Dr. Corree Laule.

Techniques employed in lab:

  • Electroencephalography (EEG, a technique for measuring electrical activity in the brain)
  • Electrophysiological recordings (e.g., somatosensory and contact heat evoked potentials)
  • Anatomical and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Questionnaires to assess neurological function (e.g., International Standards for the Neurological Classification of SCI).

Awards:

Some of Dr. Kramers’s recent major awards and accomplishments include:

  • Scholar, Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, 2014
  • North American Spine Society, Clinical & Research Travelling Fellowship, 2014
  • Scholar, Clinical Research Pillar, (jointly funded by the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research and the Rick Hansen Institute), 2014
  • Post-Doctoral Fellowship, International Foundation for Research in Paraplegia, 2011
  • Trainee Award, Rick Hansen Institute, 2008

Trainee Awards

Year Name Award
2024 Paulina Scheuren Michael Smith Health Research BC Trainee Award, Michael Smith Health Research BC
2024 Paulina Scheuren ICORD Travel Trainee Award
2024 Paulina Scheuren Swiss National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Mobility Fellowship
2023 Amy Zhao Summer Student Research Program, University of British Columbia
2023 Ryan Loke Graduate Teaching Assistance Excellence Award, University of British Columbia
2023 Ryan Loke Trainee Symposium Second Place Poster Prize, ICORD
2023 Ryan Loke ICORD Travel Trainee Award
2023 Ryan Loke President’s Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award, University of British Columbia
2023 Himali Bergeron-Vitez ICORD Travel Award
2023 Himali Bergeron-Vitez ACTRIMS Young Investigator Travel award, American Committee on treatment and research in multiple sclerosis
2023 Himali Bergeron-Vitez Travel and Research Dissemination Fund, University of British Columbia
2023 Himali Bergeron-Vitez ECTRIMS travel award, European committee on treatment and research in Muliple Sclerosis
2023 Himali Bergeron-Vitez Top Lightning talk award, University of British Columbia
2023 Himali Bergeron-Vitez The Stephen Sacks award, University of British Columbia
2023 Jaimie Lee 2nd place White Matter Study Group, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM)
2023 Jaimie Lee ICORD Travel Award
2023 Cassandra Choles VCHRI Rising Star Award
2023 Cassandra Choles ICORD Travel Award
2023 Cassandra Choles Dr. K Leighton Pharmacology and Therapeutics Graduate Award, University of British Columbia
2023 Jessica Archibald VCHRI Rising Star Award
2023 Jessie McDougall ICORD Travel Award
2023 Hannah Ro NSERC Undegraduate Student Research Award
2023 Lukas Linde TroHNS award for best abstract in translation research or human neuroscience in SCI, ASIA
2023 Bobo Tong ARM poster award, ICORD
2023 Jaimie Lee John Steeves Award- 1st Place Undergraduate Poster, ICORD ARM
2023 Jaimie Lee ISMRM & ISMRT Annual Meeting & Exhibition Trainee Stipend, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
2023 Nicole Bailey Experimental Medicine Travel Fund, UBC
2023 Himali Bergeron-Vitez Honorable mention for Master’s posters, ICORD
2022 Jaimie Lee 1st place 3 minute data blitz presentation, ICORD Trainee Symposium
2022 Jaimie Lee Multidisciplinary Research Program in Medicine Award, UBC Faculty of Medicine
2022 Jaimie Lee Trainee Travel Award, ICORD
2022 Lukas Linde Trainee Travel Award, ICORD
2022 Lucie Bourguignon International Exchange Award, ICORD
2022 Lucie Bourguignon 3rd place PhD poster, ICORD
2022 Nicole Bailey Faculty of Medicine Graduate of Award, 2022
2022 Nicole Bailey Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health Endowment Award, UBC
2022 Nicole Bailey Rising Star Award, VCHRI
2022 Nicole Bailey Graduate Student Travel Award, UBC
2022 Nicole Bailey Trainee Travel Award, ICORD
2022 Cassandra Choles Trainee Travel Award, ICORD
2022 Himali Bergeron-Vitez Trainee Travel Award, ICORD
2022 Himali Bergeron-Vitez 1st place Master’s poster award, ICORD
2022 Himali Bergeron-Vitez MS Connect Educaiton Program Travel Award, MS Connect
2022 Jessica Archibald International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Oral presentation 1st place, ISMRM
2022 Jessica Archibald 3 minute thesis runner up, VCHRI
2022 Bobo Tong ITC Symposium 1st place poster award (post-doc/ staff), ICORD
2022 Dr. Lukas Linde 1st Place Best Poster Award (12th Annual Whistler Anesthesiology Summit)
2022 Nicole Bailey 3-Minute Thesis Heat 1st Place Oral Presentation (VCHRI / Faculty of Medicine)
2022 Nicole Bailey Oral Presentation Award Winner (12th Annual Whistler Anesthesiology Summit)
2022 Paul Aspinall Poster Presentation Award Winner (12th Annual Whistler Anesthesiology Summit)
2022 Himali Bergeron-Vitez Oral Presentation Award Winner (12th Annual Whistler Anesthesiology Summit)
2021 Dr. Lukas Linde Spinal cord injury research on the translational spectrum (SCRIPTS) – Postdoctoral fellowship (Craig Neilson Foundation)
2021 Dr. Lukas Linde Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Paul Aspinall Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Cassandra Choles Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Himali Bergeron-Vitez Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Jaimie Lee Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Jaimie Lee Undergraduate Student Research Award (NSERC)
2021 Jessica Archibald Trainee Professional Development Award
2021 Jessica Archibald Graduate Student Scholarship (The Province of BC)
2021 Jessica Archibald 3MT Rising Star Award (VCHRI), Society of NEuroscience
2021 Freda Warner ICORD Annual Research Meeting Poster Award (ICORD)
2021 Jessica Archibald Friedman Award for Scholars in Health (UBC)
2021 Jessica Archibald Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Nicole Bailey Trainee Travel Award (Canadian Pain Society)
2021 Nicole Bailey Lived Experience Scholarship (Canadian Pain Society)
2021 Nicole Bailey Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Jessie McDougall Rising Star Award (VCHRI)
2020 Jessie McDougall UBC Rehabilitation Sciences Alumni Jane Hudson Scholarship in Physical Therapy (UBC)
2020 Hannah Goodings Graduate Student Research Grant (School of Kinesiology, UBC)
2020 Hannah Goodings Top Poster Presentation (ICORD Trainee Symposium)
2020 Jessica Archibald Postgraduate Scholarships- Doctoral program (NSERC)
2020 Jessica Archibald Friedman Award for Scholars in Health (UBC)

Current Lab Members

Undergraduate Students Medical Students Masters Students Ph.D. Students Postdoctoral Fellows Research Staff
Amy Zhao Lorenz Mauerer Arezoo Assadinia Lucie Bourguignon Dr. Paulina Scheuren Oscar Ortiz
Hannah Ro Jessie McDougall Dr. Lukas Linde Bobo Tong
Atrina Shadgan Sharisse Lin
Sahar Akbari Himali Bergeron-Vitez
Catherine Blouin Nicole Bailey

Current Opportunities in Lab:

Interested students should contact Dr. Kramer with inquiries.

Opportunities:

Recent publications

  • Noonan, VK et al.. 2024. Enhancing data standards to advance translation in spinal cord injury.. Exp Neurol. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.115048.
  • Bourguignon, L et al.. 2024. Impact of commonly administered drugs on the progression of spinal cord injury: a systematic review.. Commun Med (Lond). doi: 10.1038/s43856-024-00638-0.
  • Choles, CM et al.. 2024. Regional variations in cingulate cortex glutamate levels: a magnetic resonance spectroscopy study at 3 T.. J Neurophysiol. doi: 10.1152/jn.00139.2024.
  • Scheuren, PS, Kramer, JLK. 2024. Next-gen spinal cord injury clinical trials: lessons learned and opportunities for future success.. EBioMedicine. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105381.
  • Williams, AMM et al.. 2024. Methodologies to elicit and record pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials in adult humans: A systematic review.. Clin Neurophysiol. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.07.019.
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