BOSTON (May 7, 2019) – The Department of Public Health has awarded grants in the range of $500,000 to five Massachusetts researchers to promote research into cures for spinal cord injury.
The grant funds were provided by the Massachusetts Thomas P. Kennedy Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund, authorized in 2004 by the state legislature. This year marks the third time that trust fund grants are being awarded; previous awards were given to Massachusetts researchers in 2008 and 2012.
“Spinal cord injuries are catastrophic and life-changing,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH. “Here in Massachusetts, we are fortunate to have outstanding scientists working tirelessly to help those with spinal cord injury regain function and improve the quality of their lives.”
The grant that each institution receives will be used to promote spinal cord injury cure research that will lead to enhanced treatment and a cure for spinal cord injuries. The grants, awarded through a competitive process, will support researchers who have demonstrated their research potential and commitment to cure research on spinal cord injuries.
The trust fund is made up collections to the Commonwealth from a $50 surcharge assessed against any person who seeks reinstatement of his or her driver’s license after multiple offenses within a given timeframe.
This year’s recipients and the amount of their funding are:
- Christopher Gabel, PhD-Boston University School of Medicine: $440,737
- Zhigang He, PhD-Boston Children’s Hospital: $535,176
- Jeffrey D. Macklis, MD, Harvard University: $539,928
- Andrew Reisner, MD-Massachusetts General Hospital: $438,940
- Yang D. Teng. PhD, MD, MS-Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital: $524,360
The DPH Spinal Cord Injury Program promotes spinal cord injury cure research and works to assist and expand the number of scientists in the field of spinal cord injury research. For more information, visit the DPH Spinal Cord Injury webpage.
