Spinal Cord Society of Australia

The Spinal Cord Society Australia Inc (SCSA) holds a strong position in the field of spinal cord research due to the outstanding reputation of its Scientific Board and the world class quality of their spinal research projects. Significant advances toward a cure will require a sound understanding of the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms that contribute to SCI. The application of this knowledge to bring a cure will need a combination of approaches and techniques and we are supportive of a national collaborative programme which we consider to be essential.

Scientific Goals

Our primary scientific goals are:

1. To produce an effective treatment for SCI in humans that can be implemented within three to five years. We aim to develop a protocol for clinical trial in 2008.
2. To enhance the work that has been performed in other laboratories and combine the most safe and promising results to produce a combination treatment for humans.
   

The six strategies to achieve these goals are as follows:

Management of scar tissue. Overcoming the problem of axon growth inhibition. Promoting the growth of neurons. Enhancement of dormant pathways and circuits. Cell replacement therapies. Drug delivery into the CNS.