Research and Innovation

Rick and the Foundation have provided a strong voice and a clear vision to help Canada emerge as a leader in spinal cord injury (SCI) research and innovation.

Thanks to past investments in capacity and infrastructure, Canada today contributes to some of the most important discoveries in the field of SCI and is poised to lead the world in the development of an international clinical trials network that will further accelerate progress. RHF has made a significant impact on thousands of Canadians. Working closely with the Government and other partners to build this leadership potential, RHF has achieved great progress in inter-disciplinary approaches to improve lives and find a cure for paralysis after SCI - resulting in SCI expertise, technological innovation and a unique, inter-disciplinary approach that is unequalled anywhere.

Leadership and Accomplishments in Research and Innovation

Creating a leading multi-disciplinary program for basic and translational SCI research.Starting as a modest initiative at the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver General Hospital, ICORD (International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries) has become one of the largest interdisciplinary research programs in the world—with 28 principal investigators and 250 trainees. ICORD is developing strategies that promote functional recovery, mobility, community integration and quality of life for people with SCI and related disabilities, and the establishment of international guidelines for SCI clinical trials.

Funding research grants, studentships and fellowships. From 1988 to 1997, the Foundation provided 322 research grants totalling $7.2 million. Approximately 60 per cent went to basic research, 30 per cent to rehabilitation research and 10 per cent to prevention research. Many of the grantees have gone on to prestigious careers in SCI research and clinical practice. Since 1997, these grants have been administered by ICORD.

Integrating national and global translational research, clinical care and community support initiatives. A culmination of Rick’s dream for true collaboration among the SCI community, the Rick Hansen Institute is a network of 200 academic, health, service and policy-making organizations from across Canada that focus on addressing the priority needs of people who live with SCI and other disabilities. Click here to visit the Rick Hansen Institute website

Establishing international clinical trial guidelines. The Foundation and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation co-funded an initiative to create a common global pathway for SCI clinical trials. These common guidelines have vastly accelerated best practices and improved the lives of people with SCI worldwide.

Developing a national network of SCI knowledge leaders. The Rick Hansen Neurotrauma Initiative emerged from the 10th Anniversary of the Man In Motion World Tour in partnership with several provinces. The network generated greater collaboration in the field of neurotrauma research, rehabilitation and injury prevention. In B.C., the Neurotrauma Initiative was set up to provide ongoing funding for SCI research and rehabilitation initiatives from the proceeds of traffic infractions. To date, this fund continues to generate approximately $2 million a year, totalling $20 million in grants over the last 10 years across the province.

Helping to create the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation. A health-research funder, the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF) is devoted to strategic and applied research in the field of neurotrauma. The Foundation lobbied the provincial government to establish the ONF through an initial grant of $25 million and convinced the government to renew its funding for an additional five years through 2008. To date, ONF has granted more than $21 million to approximately 240 research projects across Ontario.