Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research (SMSR) is an independent charity dedicated to funding research that will help to improve quality of life for people living with a spinal cord injury (SCI).

There are around 40,000 people living in the UK with SCI, many of whom will experience complications from their injury.  Our new Research Grants programme is focussed on the following areas, each of which affects the quality of life of people living with SCI.  We hope that this research leads to new treatments and therapies, deepening of understanding and dissemination of best practice in these areas:

• Assistive Technology Primarily for Upper Limb Function
• Neuropathic Pain
• Pressure Ulcers
• Urinary Tract Infection

SMSR research priorities were chosen following a study highlighting research priorities identified by people with SCI, carers and clinicians in a study led by Dr Joost van Middendorp, our first Research Director, in collaboration with the James Lind Alliance (JLA).  The current research policy remains firmly focused on maintaining and developing research projects that meet SMSR priority areas and criteria, and which have been approved by the SMSR Trustee Board and Scientific Advisory Board.

More information about our research grant awards can be found here

Currently none of our funded research involves the use of animals. However, as a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), we support AMRC's statement on the use of animals in research, to advance understanding and treatment of serious health conditions, where there is no alternative that can be used.