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About the Spinal Cord Research Centre [ Mission | Direction | Current Action | Functions | Future Growth | Research Benefits | Relationship to Strategic Plan of University | Constitution | Financial Resources | Purpose of Site | Articles About Us | More Info ] The Spinal Cord Research Centre consists of 21 principal investigators from seven Departments or Schools of the University of Manitoba. These investigators are joined by over sixty research associates, post-doctoral fellows, students and support staff. The Centre was brought into being through a joint effort among the Canadian Paraplegic Association, the Health Sciences Centre Research Foundation and the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Medicine. Its director is Dr. David McCrea of the Department of Physiology. Previously the Centre was directed by Dr. Larry Jordan (1997-2003) and co-directed by Dr. Jordan and Dr Hyman Dubo of the Section of Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine (1989-1997). Mission StatementMission The mission of the Spinal Cord Research Centre of Winnipeg is to provide an environment for world-class spinal cord research and training. Emphasis is on research into the mechanisms controlling movement, bowel and bladder function, and the effects of training on the nervous system. This knowledge will also provide new clinical tools for the treatment of injury and disease affecting these functional systems. Objectives Within the broad scope of spinal cord research:
Origins and DirectionThe Spinal Cord Research Centre (SCRC) of Winnipeg was formed in 1987 as a partnership between the University of Manitoba, the Health Sciences Centre Research Foundation (now Health Sciences Centre Foundation) and the Canadian Paraplegic Association, Manitoba Division. The Spinal Cord Research Centre concept was reviewed and approved by the Faculty of Medicine Research Committee, and its formation was announced on the occasion of Rick Hansen's stop in Winnipeg on his Man in Motion World Tour to raise funds for spinal cord research. The SCRC was set up for the recruitment of new clinical and basic science faculty and the establishment of new laboratories in which independently funded research could flourish within the Faculty of Medicine. To a large extent these goals have been met. Several nationally and internationally funded laboratories have been set up. There is an active graduate training program, and there has been international recognition of the work carried out at the Centre. With the maturation of SCRC, emphasis has shifted from growth to continuance. Basic research efforts have evolved from in vivo experiments on adult animal models (members of the SCRC are leaders in the fields of locomotor control and neural control of bladder function) to molecular and cellular approaches made possible by recruitment of faculty (Dr. Schmidt, Dr. D. Nance, Dr. Hochman) and incorporation of existing faculty (Drs. Nagy, Cheng and Geiger) with appropriate expertise. Clinical research developments have included intrathecal drug studies (Dr. P. Nance and Dr. Schmidt), clinical gait studies (Dr. P. Nance), and clinical treatments for bone density loss after spinal cord injury (Dr. P. Nance), among many others. The addition of a neurosurgeon to the group (Dr. Brownstone 1995-2000) allowed the development of research efforts designed to bring the basic research of SCRC members into clinical application, particularly for new approaches requiring neurosurgery. This group is unique in the world, and is poised to make further significant advances in the treatment of spinal cord injury and disease. See our areas of expertise for more information. We also invite you to browse through various articles written about us.
Functions 1) The promotion of research interactions within the spinal cord
group and the larger neuroscience community. This is achieved through 2) The maintenance of core technical facilities including software development
and electronic equipment design and manufacture. These are now critical functions
of the SCRC because the University has closed the faculty electronics support
service and the Department of Physiology has discontinued its electronics technician
position. The software for the analysis of electrophysiology data, which was
developed by SCRC staff (used in 7 labs), has been a small source of income
from sale of this software to investigators in other institutions. Therefore,
software upgrade and maintenance is an ongoing function with broader implications. 4) A coordinating central office with one administrative assistant for the promotion of lectures, arranging visiting scientists, administration of shared CIHR Group Grant and NIH grants, maintenance of information systems, providing secretarial support to the faculty, staff and trainees of SCRC, and to the Neuroscience Research Group. Future GrowthCurrently, the primary/core members hold positions and research labs in the Department of Physiology. Future growth will likely expand outside the confines of Physiology, and the Faculty of Medicine. For example, Drs. Karen Ethans (Section of Rehabilitation Medicine), Michelle Porter and Phillip Gardiner (Faculty of Physical Education and Leisure Studies) are new members with primary academic appointments outside of Physiology. Dr. Porter heads up the Neuromuscular Performance and Aging Laboratory at the Health, Human Leisure and Performance Research Institute located at the Fort Garry Campus. Dr. Gardiner, who begins his appointment July 1, 2002, as the Director of the HLHP Research Institute and Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity & Health Studies, has been given an adjunct appointment with no teaching commitments in the Department of Physiology to set up a new state-of-the art Neuromuscular (spinal cord) Physiology Laboratory, conjoining with the SCRC group. His lab will be located in Physiology. Dr. Dean Kriellaars heads up the Human Performance lab in the School of Medical Rehabilitation with cross-appointments in School of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Recreation, and Departments of Physiology and Surgery. Dr. Fedirchuk, who was hired in a tenure track position in July 2000 in Physiology, is the newest recipient of a CFI grant to set up a Neural-Imaging, Electrophysiology, and Cellular-Perfusion Facility. Some of this equipment will be integrated into the shared SCRC histology/imaging facility. The primary core members of the SCRC are responsible for much of the basic neuroscience teaching in medicine. Thus in addition to their graduate training responsibilities, McCrea, Shefchyk, Jordan, Schmidt and Fedirchuk are key to the delivery of the medical curriculum. The recent 25% increase in medical class size creates a significant imposition on spinal cord research activities. Without recruitment, research programs within the SCRC will suffer. The two positions that urgently need filling are a basic scientist interested in spinal cord development and regeneration, and a clinician scientist (preferably a neurosurgeon) to take research developments into the clinic. We expect that these individuals would be recruited directly into existing University departments. We would hope that members of the SCRC would be called upon to identify suitable applicants and assist with their integration into research programs within the SCRC. Research Benefits
Relationship to Strategic Plan of University
Since 1987, the SCRC and its members have grown to become recognized as a leading
international research centre of excellence in the field of spinal cord research,
comparable to leading international counterparts. The SCRC is clearly in harmony
with the University of Manitoba's strategic plan for research, as articulated
in the Task Force report
"Building on Strengths": 2. Success of SCRC Core Members in CIHR, NIH and CFI competitions 3. International competitiveness of SCRC is indicated by the Sources of Funding which include the U.S. National Institutes of Health, among many others. Overall, eleven SCRC members hold CIHR grants, one CIHR group grant is held by the Core members, and four NIH grants have been awarded, of which two are held by the Core members. 4. Respect and recognition earned by members of the SCRC. Indicated by their selection for membership in and leadership of national and international grant review committees, by their selection for membership on the Editorial Boards of important neuroscience journals, and by the fact that their expertise is sought in the manuscript review process of major neuroscience journals. 5. The SCRC labs have attracted collaborations and visiting scientists for joint research efforts from across Canada, eg. Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal; and internationally, from , Australia, Britain, Denmark, France, Japan, Mexico, Sweden and the United States. Most of the collaborators are established, leading scientists in their area of expertise. 6. Members of the SCRC constantly pursued by other institutions as potential recruits. This is a very clear indication of the recognition that SCRC members have achieved. Recent losses in 1999 have been Dr. Shawn Hochman (recruited to Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia) and Dr. Patricia Nance (recruited to Veterans Affairs Medical Centre, Long Beach, California), and in 2000, Dr. Rob Brownstone (recruited to Dalhousie University); the latter two have retained External Adjunct appointments in the Department of Physiology to continue ongoing research collaborations with SCRC. 7. National and international recognition indicated by over 100 invitations to SCRC members to speak at symposia and to lecture at other institutions (1996-2001), 22 in 2000-2001. 8. International symposia and national meetings. SCRC members were key figures in the organization of six international symposia and two national meetings in the last 5 years. 9. Publication record. SCRC Full Members have published a total of 159 refereed papers during the period from 1996-2001 and most of these have appeared in some of the top journals in the field. 10. Patents. Several members of the SCRC have been successful in the development of intellectual property (Cheng, Nagy, D Nance), software (Jordan, Kriellaars) and devices for rehabilitation (Kriellaars, P Nance). 11. Trainees and alumni of the SCRC have been recruited to some of the top academic institutions in the world, including the University of Miami, University of Louisville, University of British Columbia, Emory University, University of North Dakota, University College London, and well as the University of Manitoba. Constitution1. Organization structure 1.1 Facility
1.2 Administative Unit
1.3 Personnel
1.4 Role of Director
1.5 Committees
2. Categories of Membership
B. Associate Members
3. Procedures for appointments
4. Privileges and responsibilities of membership • All members must hold an academic appointment at the University of
Manitoba and be actively conducting and/or supporting basic research and/or
clinical studies on functional systems of the spinal cord. Financial Resources1. Past History The Centre, established in January 1987, received the following funding support
to establish, develop and maintain the Neuroscience Research Program, including
the Spinal Cord Research Centre, at the University of Manitoba and Health Sciences
Centre: 1987 - 2001 $335,000 from the Manitoba Paraplegia Foundation and the Will to Win Scholarship fund which MPF administers for academic salary support. 1999/2001 $406,000 bridge funding from The Province of Manitoba (Health) 2000/2001 $95,000 from the University of Manitoba President and Dean of Medicine to support two key personnel - Research Associate (Jordan Lab) and SCRC administrative secretary (OA5) - which had been previously funded under the HSCF contract agreement. 2. CurrentThe SCRC program has attracted and established leading investigators in spinal cord research. The incorporation of these individuals into University departments and their emergence as leaders within the faculty is but one example of the positive benefits of the SCRC to the University. External Funding As at April 1, 2002, the total annual amount held by Primary/Core members for the current operating year (2002/2003) is $1,320,729. Manitoba Paraplegia Foundation MPF have provided an annual scholarship award since 1987 through the Will to Win Annual Golf Classic fundraiser, whose mandate it is to provide scholarship support for an SCRC investigator who holds an academic appointment, preferably a new recruit, or other suitable member as named by the SCRC director. These funds had been formerly used to supplement academic salary appointments, and are now used for special academic appointments (eg. research associate). Private Funding The University of Manitoba "Spinal Cord Research" donations account was set up in March, 1999, for receipt of private donations made in the memorial category, a few from all-charities campaigns run annually by corporations or employee organizations. Dr. Jordan has responded to over 100 donors with a personal thank you letter which the Private Funding Office forwards along with the tax donation receipt and acknowledgement card from the UM. Software Sales Income The Software Income Account was set up in January 1997 to collect income from the sale of the Data Capture and Analysis Software developed at the Spinal Cord Research Centre. This software for nervous system data capture and analysis has a sale value of CAD 7,000 for Linux users. Copies have been sold to researchers in Denmark, Sweden, USA, Japan, and Canada, with the most recent sale made in April 2001. The funds held in this account are used to subsidize development and maintenance of the software. 3. FutureThe likelihood of attracting future external funding is very high, based on the proven track record of the SCRC members. Some of the important factors are listed below: A. Salary support
B. Research grant funding
C. MPF (WTW)
D. Private Funding
E. Software Sales Income
Purpose of this SiteThis web site was set up to provide information about the research underway at the Spinal Cord Research Centre primarily to prospective students, postdoctoral trainees and research collaborators, as well as potential funders or partners interested in supporting spinal cord research in Manitoba. For More Information...Articles About Us - Our People - Our Facilities - S.C.I./Disability Resources - Contacting Us |
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Spinal Cord Research Centre,
University of Manitoba.
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