Paralyzed Veterans of America Spinal Cord Research Foundation

Funds research aimed at restoring function and improving the quality of life for veterans and all others paralyzed by spinal cord injury or disease.

Why do we exist?

In December 1941, many of our nation’s finest men and women were called to fight in World War II. These individuals— our fathers, grandfathers, mothers, grandmothers, uncles, and aunts—were proud and honored to answer that call.  Many of these heroes died in combat, never to see their loved ones again, while others returned severely injured.  Approximately 2,000 returned home with a spinal cord injury.  The average life span for someone diagnosed with a spinal cord injury in the 1940s was 18 months. The cause of death was usually common blood infections, respiratory complications, or urinary tract infections.  Medical professionals did not know very much about spinal cord injury.  Thus, the general treatment was to make the injured veterans comfortable until they died.

But the fighting spirit of these American heroes could not be crushed by a spinal cord injury. Seeking better health care and a better quality of life, they banded together to found the Paralyzed Veterans of America (“Paralyzed Veterans”) in 1946. One of Paralyzed Veterans’ first goals, and part of its core mission today, is to fund research to find cures for paralysis brought on by spinal cord injury or diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and post-polio syndrome. 

The Foundation seeks to alleviate and eventually end the medical and secondary consequences of paralysis, improve the current treatment and care for spinal cord dysfunction, develop innovative rehabilitation therapies and assistive devices, and train the next generation of talented researchers. The Foundation achieves its mission by funding research grants to scientists interested in spinal cord medicine. Over the years, these grants have helped to increase scientific knowledge about how to treat spinal cord dysfunction and improve the quality of life for all individuals with paralysis.

What have you accomplished?

The PVA Research Foundation is one of the oldest private funding sources for spinal cord research, supporting grants ranging from basic neuroscience to applied clinical research to design and development of assistive devices.  Since its beginning, the Foundation has provided more than $40,000,000 to laboratories throughout the United States and Canada.  The Foundation fosters innovative research and attracts new talent to the spinal cord research field, and has helped to launch the careers of many of the best scientists in the field today. 

Examples of grants include the following:

• Bone marrow stem cell grafts for spinal cord pain
• Novel gene targets for spinal cord regeneration
• A genetic approach to generate neuronal subtypes in adult spinal cord
• Novel compounds that overcome central nervous system growth inhibition
• Combination of cellular transplants and motor training to improve reaching
• Novel approaches to central nervous system regeneration
• Cellular transplantation to Improve bladder function
• Recumbent stepping for gait rehabilitation after spinal cord injury
• Obstetrical outcomes of women with spinal cord injury
• Preventing pressure ulcers by an alternating pressure relief system
• Effects of robotic-assisted treadmill training on the recovery of ambulation following spinal cord injury

A targeted intervention for reducing shoulder pain and improving function in persons with spinal cord injury

• The development of micro processor-based electric powered wheelchairs

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