Spinal Cord Injury Research Techniques Course

University of California, Irvine; Dr. Oswald Seward;

The Spinal Cord Injury Research Techniques Course provides intensive hands-on training to those wishing to learn how to carry out spinal cord injury (SCI) research using animal models. Although an educational program, the focus is training individuals to participate in SCI research, and so the outcome of the course is an increase in the number and types of individuals engaging in SCI research. The primary goal of the course is to provides students with the techniques, knowledge and skills needed to explore pieces of the SCI research puzzle. However, equally important goals are to indoctrinate students to a multidisciplinary approach and provide a collaborative experience. An additional goal is to provide much needed educational opportunities for medical doctors wanting to pursue SCI research.

A successful SCI researcher must (1) know the current literature and philosophies, (2) have a good understanding of the historical underpinnings of the current progress, (3) have a strong methodological grounding , and (4) know both basic and cutting edge techniques. The SCI Research Techniques course provides intensive training in all of these areas. Top scientists present current topics sessions, which delve into hot areas of SCI research. In addition, history is explored over several sessions presented by renowned SCI scientist, Dr. Lloyd Guth. Technical and methodological skills are learned through daily lab sessions. Students learn the entire range of techniques needed to perform an SCI experiment, including ancillary methodology. As the students work with each other, the instructors and guest lecturers, they create a network to call on for collaboration and advice, a network that can greatly facilitate research.

The SCI Research Techniques course is an important educational tool for furthering and expanding SCI research. Thus, the course provides a much-needed venue for training future SCI scientists to design and execute animal model studies that will generate treatments for SCI.

Treatments for paralysis and spinal cord injury will come from people studying the problems. However, people need training, and there is currently a great need for SCI research educational opportunities. The SCI Research Techniques course will impact the hunt for treatments by bringing more talented, dedicated people into the research field. If more people spend more time engaging in research projects with ramifications for SCI, progress toward treatments will be accelerated.