Have you ever considered participating in research? The International Center for Spinal Cord Injury currently has several studies and clinical trials seeking volunteers for both people who have paralysis and those without paralysis.

Participating in research allows us to investigate potential interventions and new testing measures, thus enabling us to continue to provide the best medical and therapeutic care to our patients.

Interested in participating in research? Here are some studies looking for volunteers:

Relationship of MRI to ASIA Impairment Scale in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Principal Investigator: Ann S. Choe, PhD
More Details
Protocol #:NA_00001271

Structural and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging – Adult Healthy Volunteers Needed
Principal Investigator: Ann S. Choe, PhD
More Details
Protocol #: IRB00070570

Virtual Sailing Simulator in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury -- Adults with Spinal Cord Injury who want to learn how to sail
Principal Investigator: Albert Recio, MD, PT
More Details
Protocol #: NA_00044093

Investigation on the Bidirectional Cortical Neuroprosthetic System (BiCNS)
Principal Investigator: Pablo Celnik, MD
More Details
Protocol #: IRB00106844

International Spinal Cord Injury (INSCI) Survey Pilot Project
Principal Investigator: Cristina Sadowsky, MD
More Details: 1,000 adults with spinal cord injuries will participate nationally; up to 500 will be recruited at Kennedy Krieger Institute. All participants will be asked to complete the self-reported INSCI survey. The INSCI questionnaire is 125 questions and will take up to 60 minutes to complete. The questionnaire itself can be completed on paper by you, or be administered over the phone with a study team member.  You will be asked to complete the INSCI survey again in 5 years, which will end your participation in this study. 
Protocol #: IRB00146032

Cortical Functional Connectivity as an Early Biomarker of Recovery in Spinal Cord Injury
Principal Investigator: Ann S. Choe, PhD
More Details
Protocol #: IRB00182576

Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation in Children with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy
Principal Investigator: Rebecca Martin, OTD, OTR/L
More Details: 20 Children between the ages or 6-16 with non-progressive incomplete spinal cord injury who are at least six months’ post injury may join this study. In Aims 1 and 3 your child will be randomized to one of two groups, either the active stimulation group or the sham stimulation group. Group assignments will be placed in sealed envelopes and drawn, at random, on enrollment. Your child has a 1 in 2 chance of receiving active TSCS. They have the same chance of being in the group who receives sham, or fake, TSCS. Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (TSCS), TSCS will be applied using an oval electrode placed midline on the skin on your child’s back and two rectangular electrodes placed on the skin over your child’s lower abdomen. In very small children, smaller electrodes will be considered. Your child will receive a small electrical current through those electrodes for 30 minutes.  The current can be uncomfortable, but it will be adjusted for your child’s tolerance. Your child will participate in 24 total sessions, 2 sessions will involve assessments only, and 22 sessions will include 2 hours of intensive gait therapy with/without TSCS. Sessions will occur at least 3 times per week, but may be scheduled as many as 5 times per week.
Protocol #: IRB00300695

Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation with Therapy for the Recovery of Walking Patients with Incomplete SCI: A pilot trial
Principal Investigator: Rebecca Martin, OTD, OTR/L
More Details: 6 adults 18 years of age or older with chronic (not worsening), traumatic (due to sudden damage or accident) incomplete spinal cord injury may join if they qualify according to the protocol. You will participate in 90 minute sessions that will occur at least three (3) times per week, but may be scheduled as many as five (5) times per week. This will allow you to choose the best frequency and study duration (5-8 weeks).
Protocol #: IRB00334608

If you need additional information about a specific clinical research trial, or if you think that you may be eligible, please call the ICSCI Clinical Research Coordinator at 443-923-9235 or clinicaltrials@spinalcordrecovery.org. Please be prepared to leave a detailed message, including the protocol number of the clinical research you are interested in and your contact information so that we may respond with a confidential message for you.