Spinal Cord Injury Research Training Program

NINDS has renewed the Facilities of Research Excellence in Spinal Cord Injury (FORE-SCI) hands on training contract. The Ohio State University successfully competed for the contract and will conduct the course for five years beginning in 2009. For current information about this training opportunity, please visit The Ohio State University Spinal Cord Injury Training Program web site.

The course directors are accepting trainee applications for the NIH-sponsored Spinal Cord Injury Research Training Program at Ohio State; sixteen slots available. The course, to be held from July 12-31, 2009 in Columbus OH, is a comprehensive, hands-on training program in experimental spinal cord injury (SCI). Instruction will be provided in: (1) SCI modeling (e.g., laminectomy, contusion using the NYU, the OSU and the IH devices, transection models), (2) acute & chronic animal care, (3) outcomes assessments including behavioral measures (e.g. BBB, sensory testing, treadmill testing, walkway and footprint analysis, etc.) and histopathology (e.g. tissue preparation, staining and image analysis) and (4) clinical perspectives in SCI. Supplemental training modules provide opportunities for instruction in: (1) mouse laminectomy/SCI, (2) mouse locomotor analysis (BMS), (3) anatomical tract tracing, (4) microsurgical techniques for localized drug delivery (e.g., intrathecal catheterization, intraspinal microinjections), (5) immunohistochemistry, (6) advanced behavioral analysis, (7) cell transplantation, (8) rat electromyography and (9) rat cervical SCI.

Previous offerings have received outstanding ratings from the participants. The total immersion in experimental SCI procedures while at OSU was noted by many to be the key to their success upon returning to their home labs. NINDS has provided significant support to offset curricular, travel, & room/board expenses. Partial scholarships are available based on need. Additional details and application forms are available via the web at The Ohio State University Spinal Cord Injury Training Program web site.

Program Faculty:

• D. Michele Basso, Ed.D.
• John A. Buford, Ph.D.
• Lyn B. Jakeman, Ph.D.
• Sandra K. Kostyk, M.D., Ph.D.
• Dana M. McTigue, Ph.D.
• Phillip G. Popovich, Ph.D.