The Travis Roy Foundation (TRF) is proud to support scientific research projects that will lead to the discovery of a cure for spinal cord injuries and the paralysis and sensory deficits that occur as a result of the damage. The spinal cord is a complicated structure and understanding its function requires a thorough appreciation of normal nervous system development and the interaction of the complicated, yet precisely designed anatomical, physiological, electrophysiological, and immune system functions.

The scientists supported by the TRF have extensive backgrounds in research and neuroscience and follow established protocols as they tirelessly work to learn more about the spinal cord and its response to damage. Dr. Jeffrey Macklis, the director of the Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School Center for Nervous System Repair, and Dr. Jason Carmel of the College of Staten Island/City University of New York are this year’s recipients of research grants from the TRF. Dr. Macklis, who has received a of a previous TRF grant, is studying the factors involved in the normal development of corticospinal motor neurons (these are cells that originate in the brain and descend through the spinal cord to specific targets to control voluntary movement) and their response to injury. By gaining a thorough understanding of the behavior of the neurons, Dr. Macklis has been able to develop strategies to influence their repair following injury to the spinal cord. Dr. Jason Carmel, a first time recipient of a grant from the TRF, is studying the effects that electrical stimulation and behavioral training have on strengthening connections in the spinal cord following injury.  The TRF is also in conversations with researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston and is looking forward to supporting researchers as they expand their investigations that will lead to the functional repair of the spinal cord.

It is with the support of our generous donors that allows the TRF to support the work of these researchers. By contributing to the TRF, donors are contributing to the cure for spinal cord injuries. There is no definite limit to improvement in the spinal cord following injury. People with acute (newer) and chronic injuries (those that happened years ago) can expect to benefit from the findings of these researchers and the others who have committed their careers to finding the best neural repair strategies that will improve both sensory and motor function following injury. It is only through extensive research that the cure will be found. Research is time consuming and expensive, and the TRF is dedicated to supporting the work of exceptional researchers until the time that a cure is found.