APACURE

The Facts on Central Nervous System
Disorders (Spinal Cord and Brain)

There are an estimated 50 million Americans affected by diseases or disorders of the spinal cord and brain. The list of disorders includes the following: spinal cord injury, memory loss, addiction, schizophrenia, learning disability, depression, violence, stroke, brain injury, dementia, suicide and many others. More than 90% of the American population has experienced or will experience the effects of a brain-related, mental, emotional or behavioral, disease, disorder or injury at some point in their lives. Spinal cord injuries affect 250,000 Americans, costing more than $10 billion yearly. Head injuries have disabled two million individuals, costing the country $25 billion annually. Strokes affect 500,000 new people every year, costing the national economy $25 billion yearly. Spinal cord and brain disorders impact the American economy in excess of $400 billion a year, on direct health care costs and additional indirect lifetime costs. Individual suffering and loss to society, however, are almost impossible to quantify.

Sources: American Paralysis Association and The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives

Apparelyzed - Spinal Cord Injury Peer Support

Milestones in spinal research


Stem Cell Research News

  • Standards In Stem Cell Research (Science Daily)
    Standards in stem cell research help both scientists and regulators to manage uncertainty and the unknown, according to new research. Efforts to standardize practices across different labs is, however, a balancing act where the autonomy of scientists and fragility of living material need to be weighed against the need for comparable data.
  • Collaborations (San Diego Business Journal)
    Collaborations in the field of stem cell research are evolving alongside the research itself, producing the kind of progress scientists say is necessary for moving potential cures into the clinic and eventually onto the market.
  • Standards In Stem Cell Research (BioresearchOnline)
    Standards in stem cell research help both scientists and regulators to manage uncertainty and the unknown, according to new research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council
  • Standards In Stem Cell Research (Medical News Today)
    Standards in stem cell research help both scientists and regulators to manage uncertainty and the unknown, according to new research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. Efforts to standardise practices across different labs is, however, a balancing act where the autonomy of scientists and fragility of living material need to be weighed against the need for comparable data.
  • GSK in Harvard stem cell deal (Financial Times)
    GlaxoSmithKline yesterday announced the largest commitment to stem cell research by a pharmaceutical company.
  • Government to set up stem cell research unit in Bangalore (New Kerala)
    New Delhi, July 24 : Giving a fillip to regenerative medicine, the union cabinet Thursday decided to set up an Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine in Bangalore.
  • GSK in Harvard stem cell deal (Financial Times)
    The largest commitment to stem cell research by a pharmaceutical company was announced on Thursday. GlaxoSmithKline of the UK said it would invest at least $25m (?15.8m. £12.5m) over five years on a collaborative agreement with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, ?leading to the development of new medicines?.
  • Global Stem Cell Forum in China Showcases Cutting Edge Research, Focuses on New Findings for iPS Cells (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
    Over 300 of China's top stem cell biologists and researchers from around the globe shared their latest results and held China's first ever symposium on advanced induced pluripotent stem cell research during the just concluded first annual 2008 China Stem Cell Technology Forum at the China Medical City complex in Taizhou, China.
  • John Gearhart appointed PIK prof. (Daily Pennsylvanian)
    Gearhart, an expert in stem-cell research, is the eighth PIK professor. The University announced yesterday the appointment of stem cell expert John Gearhart as the eighth Penn Integrates Knowledge professor and director of the Institute of Regenerative Medicine.
  • Republican governor's debate gets testy (KTVO TV 3 Kirksville)
    Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. SPRINGFIELD, MO. (AP) -- A debate between Republican gubernatorial candidates Kenny Hulshof and Sarah Steelman gets testy as they spar over spending, stem cell research and ethanol.