By Vikki Franklin

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Each year, there are about 10,000 new cases of spinal cord injury and 500,000 cases of severe head trauma in the United States. The highest risk group is young adults, who are most likely to be involved in motor vehicle accidents.

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The proposed center will promote research on injuries to the spinal cord and brain that result in paralysis or other loss of neurologic function.

The gift establishes three endowed chairs and postdoctoral and graduate student fellowships in spinal cord and brain injury research.

Each year, there are about 10,000 new cases of spinal cord injury and 500,000 cases of severe head trauma in the United States. The highest risk group is young adults, who are most likely to be involved in motor vehicle accidents.

The center will seek to understand the nature of these severe injuries to the spinal cord and brain, and develop clinical approaches for improving the recovery of patients who have suffered such injuries.

UK will apply for $2 million in matching funds from the Research Challenge Trust Fund to match the endowed chairs and postdoctoral and graduate student fellowship endowments.

"Exciting advances in neuroscience research during the past decade have demonstrated the potential for protection and repair of damaged neurons," said James Geddes, associate professor of anatomy and neurobiology and interim director of the proposed center. "The goal of the center is to build on these advances, to find more effective treatments for spinal cord and head injury, and ultimately to achieve functional repair of the injured spinal cord and brain."

The center will include researchers and clinicians from a variety of disciplines, and studies will range from fundamental neuroscience research to clinical applications.