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V. Reggie Edgerton, Ph.D. (UCLA), Principal Investigator in Reeve Foundation's International Research Consortium
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Dear Danny,
I want to thank you personally for everything you have done to help bring about an amazing breakthrough for everyone in the paralysis community.
Reeve Foundation supported scientists at UCLA and the University of Zurich have been able to make rats with completely transected spinal cords recover to the point that they can step and fully support their own weight. This is a first!
Rats in the study had completely severed spinal cords. They underwent a three-part intervention. Scientists gave the rats a combination of the drug quipazine, and then epidural electrical stimulation. This treatment activates the spinal cord's neural circuitry and makes it functional again. Then the rats were given locomotor training.
The combination proved extremely effective. Within a relatively short period of time, the rats were walking again. The voluntary stepping of the rats on a treadmill was almost indistinguishable from their stepping prior to their spinal cord injury.
Christopher Reeve and so many supporters like you never wavered in the belief that we could develop treatments and cures for spinal cord injury. This groundbreaking study represents a leap forward in the search for treatments, particularly for those whose injuries are complete. Science is fulfilling Christopher's vision.
But reaching this milestone not only required the hard work of talented scientists and the dogged determination of our team here to make Christopher's vision a reality, but it took you.
Every time you and other Reeve Foundation supporters donated your hard earned money, contacted your Congressperson or Senator to fund paralysis research, participated in a Team Reeve event, attended a comedy night or other event, you helped make this happen.
Because of terrific supporters like you, we are able to support the Reeve Foundation's International Research Consortium. V. Reggie Edgerton, PhD (UCLA) is a Principal Investigator in the Consortium and Gregoire Courtine, PhD (who is now an independent investigator in Zurich) was one of his Associates in the network.
Thanks to you, the Reeve Foundation has been able to fund research that challenged conventional thinking. This study shows that even if the connection between the brain and spinal cord is interrupted (which is what happens in a complete spinal cord injury), function below the injury can be restored. Many did not believe this could be true.
We have also been able to build the NeuroRecovery Network where human spinal cord injured patients participate in locomotor training.
All the people living with spinal cord injuries, who will benefit from this exciting advance, are so grateful to you. So am I.
Christopher once said, "Keeping hope alive requires endurance and hard work." Somehow it seems fitting that this good news arrives in what would have been his birthday week.
You can read the full study published in Nature Neuroscience (20 September 209) and find more information on our Daily Dose blog.
Now we will redouble our efforts to move this and other promising research to the clinic. No doubt, in coming weeks I will be asking for your help again. But today, I just want to say thanks.
Please share this exciting news with your friends.
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Yours Truly,
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Peter T. Wilderotter
President and CEO |
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