Kessler Foundation to present recent findings in spinal cord injury research at ASCIP conference

Scientists from Kessler Foundation are presenting recent findings in spinal cord injury research during Beyond Boundaries: the 2012 Conference of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP). John DeLuca, PhD, Steven Kirshblum, MD, Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, Gail F. Forrest, PhD, Denise Fyffe, PhD, and Rachel Byrne, are addressing a variety of topics at this multidisciplinary conference. Topics include new approaches to improving mobility and cognition, minimizing pain, determining prognosis and addressing health disparities. The ASCIP conference is being held at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 3-6. Attendees represent the ASCIP's membership of clinicians and researchers in medicine, science, psychology, nursing, therapy, and social work.

John DeLuca, PhD, VP of Research & Training at Kessler Foundation is giving the James J. Peters Memorial Lecture, named for the executive director of United Spinal Association who was a tireless advocate for people with spinal cord injury. Dr. DeLuca, a well-known expert in cognitive rehabilitation research, will discuss the cognitive issues that are often under recognized in patients with multiple sclerosis. Dr. Steven Kirshblum's topic for the Jayanthi Lecture is determining prognosis for the individual with acute injury. Drs. Kirshblum and Dyson-Hudson are co-directors of the Northern New Jersey SCI Model System at Kessler Foundation. Dr. Dyson-Hudson is presenting the model system's research on preventing pneumonia after spinal cord injury, as well as results of a pilot study on the use of platelet-rich plasma therapy for shoulder pain in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury.

Dr. Forrest's presentations address the scope of her innovative applications of technological advances for mobility after spinal cord injury. Drs. Forrest, Kirshblum, and colleagues, will discuss their clinical research experience with robotic exoskeletal devices, including their potential for affecting long-term health and well-being in the SCI population. Dr. Fyffe, an expert in health disparities, is an author on two posters: "Qualitative study of the impact of blood pressure dysregulation on quality of life in SCI" and "Self-reported symptoms of blood pressure dysregulation in persons with spinal cord injury." This research is VA funded and conducted in collaboration with researchers at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center.

Source: Kessler Foundation