The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are partnering on a “real-world data platform enabling advanced research across claims data, electronic medical records, and consumer wearables,” the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) said in a May 7 press release. “We’re using this partnership to uncover…
New NIH, CMS Partnership Aims to Build ‘Data Platform’ for Research on Chronic Conditions
United Spinal Launches Effort to Restore SCIRP Funding in 2026
The Spinal Cord Injury Research Program at the Department of Defense was eliminated in March.
United Spinal Association is urging stakeholders to join the fight to restore funding for the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP) in 2026. “On March 15, the Spinal Cord Injury Research Program at the Department of Defense was eliminated,” United Spinal said in a May 1 bulletin. “There was no notice.…
University of Pittsburgh Study Seeks Input from Military Members, Veterans with SCI
Researchers are testing out a smartphone app to help veterans and caregivers manage medical issues.
The University of Pittsburgh is conducting a research study involving military members and veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI). In a social media post, Brad Dicianno, M.D., a professor in the university’s department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, school of medicine, said, “We are looking for veterans with spinal cord injury and their caregivers to…
Researchers: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Could Lessen ALS Nerve Damage
Study results suggest lowered risk of motor neuron diseases among people with a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids.
Results of a new study led by researchers at the University College London’s (UCL) UK Dementia Research Institute and the UCL Institute of Healthy Aging showed that increasing the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the brain cells of fruit flies with a certain gene mutation had a “dramatic” increase in their survival. The study…
Briefly: SMA Drug Submitted to FDA for Biologics License; Study Shows that Somatosensory Stimulation Can Affect Hand Choice
Featuring Scholar Rock and Scientific Reports.
Biopharmaceutical Company Submits SMA-Targeted Apitegromab for FDA Biologics License Scholar Rock, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based late-stage biopharmaceutical company, has submitted a Biologics License Application to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for apitegromab, described as “a muscle-targeted therapy designed and developed to provide clinically meaningful improvement in motor function for people living with SMA [spinal…
EverythingALS Launches App for ALS Community
New version of the app will connect people with ALS while collecting data to support research.
EverythingALS, a technology- and data-focused nonprofit, has launched an app to support people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), their families and caregivers, researchers, and health-care professionals. In a late August news release, Seattle-based EverythingALS said the new app, compatible with iOS and Android devices, “represents a significant upgrade from the previous version, which was…
New Research Examines Mobility Devices, Patient Characteristics of People Reporting Falls
The study used information from the Functional Mobility Assessment and Uniform Dataset Registry.
New research by clinical investigators at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of South Carolina reports on characteristics of people with limited mobility who experienced falls. An Aug. 19 news announcement from U.S. Rehab said the study — Falls in People with Mobility Limitations: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a U.S. Registry of Assistive Device…
Briefly: Colin Farrell Launches a Foundation; CP Foundation Updates Research Study Opportunities
Featuring the Colin Farrell Foundation and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
Actor Colin Farrell Launches Foundation to Support Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Irish actor Colin Farrell has launched the Colin Farrell Foundation, “committed to transforming the lives of individuals and families living with intellectual disability through education, awareness, advocacy and innovative programs.” In an Aug. 7 announcement, the Oscar-nominated actor launched his foundation’s website, which noted…
Inflammation Associated with Nervous System Damage in MS Study
Inflammation caused by common illnesses such as colds can impact the cervical spinal cords of people with multiple sclerosis.
Inflammation that occurs in parts of the body other than the brain and spinal cord has been associated with atrophy in the cervical spinal cord in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study said. The study — “Systemic inflammation associates with and precedes cord atrophy in progressive multiple sclerosis” — was published this spring…
Study: Falling, Fall-Related Injuries Are Significant Fears for Wheelchair Riders
Researchers found some riders were more reluctant to use mobility devices after falling.
A new study published in Disability and Rehabilitation examined wheelchair riders who experience falls and fall-related injuries — and how those incidents impacted their lives going forward. The research — “Factors associated with fear of falling and fall-related injuries among people who use wheelchairs and motorized mobility scooters: a cross-sectional study” — was published in…