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How we work

Ensuring we do the best research

Our Strategy

We are guided in our research strategy by four pillars 

Understand and innovate: The better we understand the pathobiology of spinal cord injury the more we will discover and can innovate to create advanced, effective treatments

Communicate and influence: Communicating our mission through our strategy, philosophy and ideals we seek to influence others to join in global efforts to change the future of spinal cord injury

Build capacity and capability: By increasing capacity in basic and clinical research, supporting networking and encouraging collaboration we can build the capability to accelerate the delivery of better treatments to patients

Translate and restore: Translating promising innovation generated in pre-clinical research to treatments that restore function and quality of life

Strategic Advisory Committee

The Strategic Advisory Council is an international body of non-remunerated eminent scientists and clinicians who advise the Trustees on research. Their input is instrumental in developing our strategic approach to research funding. The membership of the council reflects a diverse range of expertise from molecular and cell biology to neurosurgery and clinical practice.

Members

 
Professor James Guest MD PhD (Chair) 
Professor Robert Brownstone MD PhD
Professor Robin Franklin PhD
Dr Linda Jones PhD

Grant Advisory Committee

The Grant Advisory Committee is a fundamental part of the grant review process. This committee also provides advice on other matters, such as response to specific enquiries from the press or official bodies.

Members

Professor Elizabeth Bradbury PhD (Chair)
Dr Florence Bareyre PhD 
Professor Susan Barnett PhD
Professor Armin Blesch PhD
Dr Marc Bolliger PhD
Professor Divya Chari PhD
Professor Simone Di Giovanni PhD
Dr Ronaldo M Ichiyama PhD
Dr Jessica Kwok PhD
Dr Andras Lakatos MD PhD
Dr Lawrence Moon PhD
Dr Mariel Purcell MD

Association of Medical Research Charities

We strictly follow the policies laid down by the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) detailed below

Policy  

  • Follow AMRC principles of peer review and AMRC’s policies on animal research to ensure they all work to the same high standards
  • Publish a research strategy to show how the research they fund benefits patients and is part of the funding ecosystem
  • Have a conflicts of interest policy for their scientific advisory panels so that all funding decisions are impartial quality and standards
  • Our five principles of peer review are: accountability, balance, independent decision making, rotation and impartiality
  • We assess charities’ peer review processes when they apply for membership and carry out an audit of all members every five years
  • Universities, government and funding bodies use AMRC membership as a hallmark of quality

 We received the latest AMRC Peer Review certificate in 2021. The AMRC Peer Review is awarded every five years.

Charity Trustees

Mr R Shelton (Chair)
Mr I Curtis (Honorary Treasurer)
His Honour P Benson
Miss E F M Blois
Professor R M Brownstone
Mr M Reeve
Ms T Stewart
Lt. Col. David Baxter
Professor Susan Smith
Mr M Lund

Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (pdf)

Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (pdf)

Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (pdf)

Annual Report and Accounts 2018-19 (pdf)

Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18 (pdf)

Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17 (pdf)

Annual Report and Accounts 2015-16 (pdf)

Support us

Many of our innovative projects can soon be taken to clinical trials. Help us fund the research needed to do this.