The Colin Javens Spinal Injury Trust was set up in 2004 to fund research into repairing the spinal cord, and for the welfare and rehabilitation of those with spinal injuries. The Trust has set up partnerships with four other organisations with the same aims, and hopes to support the following projects:

In the UK we are working in partnership with the International Spinal Research Trust, exploring ways to repair the spinal cord and reverse the paralysis that results from spinal cord injury. Following momentous progress in the laboratory, the next landmark is the launch of clinical trials with paralysed volunteers. These trials will test innovative treatments that could repair damage in the human spinal cord, and so restore sensation and movement.

Colin, like many others living with a spinal injury, has always seen the work of Spinal Research as hope for his future – and current news of potential breakthroughs in research really does provide him with the incentive to raise funds for this cause.

About Spinal Research:

International Spinal Research Trust (ISPT) is a registered charity (no 281325) based in Surrey in the United Kingdom.  ISRT was founded in 1980 and the charity has developed into one of the leading international charitable organisations in the field of spinal cord injury research.  ISPT's pioneering research relies on dynamic fundraising and the help of our tireless supporters.  ISRT has funded over 120 research projects which have achieved a number of ground breaking changes in the field.

For more information on the work of Spinal Research please see their website www.spinal-research.org

Project Funded By The Colin Javens Spinal Injury Trust

The CJSIT awarded a grant of £125,000 to ISRT to contribute towards the funding of a three year research project at the University of Alberta in Canada. The project title was: 'Rewiring the central nervous system following spinal cord injury using neurotrophins and rehabilitative training'. The CJSIT hopes that this contribution will make a meaningful contribution to the advancement in spinal cord research.

About the NSIC
The National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC) at Stoke Mandeville Hospital is a 106 bed dedicated spinal injuries centre providing comprehensive care to adult patients with acute spinal cord injury and the lifelong complications of cord injury. It offers rehabilitation to children with spinal cord injury in a dedicated pediatric unit.

The work of the NSIC consists of diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients, both with acute spinal cord injuries and with non-traumatic spinal cord lesions of acute onset. Patients are referred from all over the UK, and from many countries around the world. The concept of very early admission to a spinal cord injuries centre was pioneered at the NSIC and this, along with many methods of treatment, have been adopted by spinal cord injuries centres around the world.

The policy of the NSIC is to provide a life-long follow-up service based on the large Outpatients Department. Ex-patients who develop complications or require hospital admission are readmitted to the Centre whenever possible to avoid complications which are more likely to occur outside a specialised unit. Alongside the full range of appropriate treatments offered to patients, the Centre also provides ongoing care and assessment of children with spinal cord injury, a posture and seating clinic, gait analysis, driving assessment and a computer workshop.

The NSIC aims to be a national and international centre of excellence for high quality diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord lesions or injury. Its aims to provide a life long service including the treatment of ex patients who develop complications or who require hospital admission for medical problems not connected to their injury. http://www.spinal.org.uk/

Project Funded By The Colin Javens Spinal Injury Trust

The CJSIT has pledged £364,000 to the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Foundation. In summary:

Stoke Mandeville Hospital has committed to providing the Spinal Foundation with a large room in the Hospital complex, which will be utilised for research activities. The room will be named “ The Colin Javens Research Room”

With the CJSIT's pledged money and other pledges, the Spinal Foundation will have enough funding to carry out the first three years work and give themselves a base for future development.

Their research will be aimed at finding new methods to improve the lives of the spinally injured, rather than trying to find the cure. They feel that, as the largest Spinal Injuries Centre in the country, they are ideally suited to do this and that there is already considerable other funding going into research for the cure.