Introduction to LSCIRC
The London Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre (LSCIRC) is based at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH). It is a collaboration between the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre at RNOH and the UCL ASPIRE Centre for Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology (CREATe).
LSCIRC comprises a group of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals who carry out applied clinical research into all areas that are relevant to spinal cord injury patients including bladder, bowel and sexual function, respiratory function, rehabilitation, assistive technology, upper limb function and care pathways.
The LSCIRC carries out a mixture of externally and internally funded research projects as well as being involved in larger multicentre clinical trials.
The London Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre endeavours to carry out high quality clinical research which aims to improve the lives of people living with a spinal cord injury. Our research strategy includes:
- Clinical research related to the priorities and needs of spinal cord injured patients
- Developing clinically relevant functional outcome measures to be used in conjunction with emerging cellular based regeneration / repair therapies
- Commercially funded clinical trials or drugs and devices
- Increasing the public understanding of SCI research through collaboration with SCI charities and user groups.
The James Lind Alliance in collaboration with the Spinal Cord Injury Association recently published the results of a Priority Setting Partnership into the priorities and needs of spinal cord injured patients and carers.
Further information:
James Lind Alliance
Stoke Mandeville Spinal Foundation SCI
Further studies have also highlighted the research priorities of people living with spinal cord injury which include restoration of upper limb, bladder, bowel and sexual function.
Steering Group:
Dr Jan Gawronski, Clinical Lead, Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine
Dr Sarah Knight, Scientific Lead, Clinical Scientist / Associate Professor UCL
Lt Comm Mr David Baxter, Consultant Neurosurgeon
Mr Manish Desai, Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine
Dr Alex Lowe, Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine
Sue Paddison - Lead Specialist Physiotherapist
Emma Linley - Lead Specialist Occupational Therapist
Iva Hauptmannova - R&D Manager RNOH
Rachel Deegan - Clinical Nurse Specialist Tissue Viability
Dr Rui Loreiro - ASPIRE / CREATe Reader
Dr Tom Carlson - ASPIRE / CREATe Lecturer
Dr Lynsey Duffell - ASPIRE / CREATe Lecturer
FIGS - Feasibility Study of Intra-vesical Gentamicin in the Prevention of Recurrent UTIs in People with SCI
- Dr Sarah Knight & Sister Evangeline Martinez
- 3 month trial of home-based instillation of gentamicin into the bladder to reduce recurrent urinary tract infections in people with SCI who use intermittent catheterisation
- Inclusion: SCI, > 16 years of age, using ISC, > 3 UTIs per year
- Funded by: Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research
iCycle 2 - Recovery of function through cycling therapy with Virtual Reality biofeedback in chronic SCI
- Dr Lynsey Duffell & Sue Paddison
- A feasibility study to determine the optimum duration of training for functional recovery using FES-cycling with virtual reality
- Inclusion: Chronic SCI
- Funded by: INSPIRE
Promoting Restoration of Co-ordinated Bladder Function through tSCS and Pelvic Rehabilitation
- Dr Sarah Knight, Natalia Vasquez & Hannah Houliston
- Investigation of a combination of bladder training and programs and transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation to promote restoration of bladder function to restore continence and improve voluntary control over voiding
- Inclusion: Chronic SCI
- Funded by: International Spinal Research Trust (ISRT)
The LSCIRC works in collaboration with a number of partners including:
We are seeking volunteers who would like to become actively involved in research undertaken at the LSCIC.
Public involvement means more than just participating as a subject in a research study. It means playing an active role in the development of new projects and setting priorities for research into new treatments and management.
If you would like to find out more, please send your details to sarah.
The NHS also has a dedicated Patient and Public Involvement Organisation called INVOLVE.
For more information about any of the projects described please send an email to
LSCIResearch@nhs.net
London Spinal Cord Injury Centre
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Brockley Hill
STANMORE
HA7 4LP
Tel: 020 3947 0606