Spinal Research is the UK’s leading medical charity focused on the repair and restoration of the spinal cord.

We exist to beat paralysis and believe in the future where an injury to the spinal cord no longer means a life sentence. 

A spinal cord injury can happen in instant to anyone, at any age, at any time and the consequences are devastating. Every four hours someone in the UK is paralysed by an injury to the spinal cord.

The International Spinal Research Trust was founded in 1980, and throughout our history we have supported many scientific breakthroughs into understanding the biology of the spinal cord, and importantly what is required to restore it.

Today we play a leadership role in shaping the international research strategy focused on spinal cord injury. This means funding and accelerating the most promising lines of research, as well as fostering collaborations between world-renowned scientific institutions.

Over the last few years we have invested over £2.2 million into research. This translates to funding over 20 research projects, many of which are now being trialled in humans.

Our most recently funded projects include clinical studies for the restoration of hand and arm function, improvements to help with bladder and bowel control and the reduction of debilitating nerve pain. Improvements in any of these areas will have a huge impact on the everyday independence, spontaneity and quality of life for people living with paralysis.

The research we support will not only benefit people with a spinal cord injury but also advance treatments for other conditions including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, stroke, dementia and motor neurone disease.

We receive no government funding and rely entirely on the support and generosity of the public to raise funds for our life changing research.

Together we can beat paralysis.