The CareCure Community

The CareCure Community is the largest interactive website dedicated to spinal cord injury and related conditions.  An extensive collection of articles and writings provides the latest news and information on research and other topics.  Interactive forums permit members to ask questions and respond to the inquiries of others. 

The interactive forums cover a wide range of topics including research, relationships, computers, cure, equipment, exercise, pain, politics, family, food, funding, sexuality, sports, and travel.  Most areas are open to anyone, but free registration is necessary to view certain topics and to post questions.

Dr. Wise Young, a leading expert in spinal cord injuries and current research is a regular contributor to the site.

Quest for the Cure:  A National Coalition to Cure Paralysis

A major milestone was reached in Fall 1998 when New York State (USA) enacted the Paul Richter Bill.    Named for State Trooper Paul Richter who was shot in the line of duty, this bill designates up to $8.5 million from surcharges on certain traffic violations for research to find a cure for spinal cord injuries.  This success has triggered efforts across the United States to pass similar legislation.  It is estimated that these bills will more than double the present annual investment in spinal cord injury research.

Quest for the Cure is a national coalition to enact legislation to fund spinal cord injury research in all fifty states.   Quest for the Cure consists of two parts:

• State Co-chairs and committees who work within their respective states to pass spinal cord injury research bills; and,
• A national coalition of the major spinal cord injury organizations and institutions who endorse and support the state efforts.

The purpose of Quest for the Cure is to raise significant new funding for spinal cord injury cure research and through these funds, to encourage new and expanded scientific efforts focused on practical therapies to cure paralysis.

Based on the fact that the major cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States is motor vehicle accidents, the primary strategy has been to introduce bills which increase traffic fines and set aside these funds for spinal cord injury research.  While each bill has been introduced with this concept, some state legislatures have opted to fund these bills from general appropriations.       

The rationale presented for these bills is primarily economic.  When a cure is found, each state will save hundreds of millions of dollars in the costs of caring for spinal cord injured persons.  In addition, states value the economic benefit gained through the expansion of their neuroscience research sector which is projected to be one of the explosive areas of growth in the next 20 years. The humanitarian case is presented as well.

Funds raised in a state are designated for research conducted within that state.  Each bill establishes a spinal cord research board or commission to evaluate research proposals and disburse grants.  While these boards vary in exact composition, they usually consist of representatives from the state government, scientists, and persons who are spinal cord injured or members of their families.   Board or commission members are generally nominated through various means and are appointed by the state governor.                                        

The board or commission is responsible for establishing a process and guidelines to solicit and review proposals and disburse funds.  Strict rules regarding conflict of interest apply.  For example, peer review members are from out-of-state and members of the commission do not serve as principal investigators on grants nor vote on grant proposals involving their institutions. 

The National Coalition consists of the major spinal cord injury organizations in the United States including:

• Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
• The Miami Project
• National Paralysis Foundation
• The Spinal Cord Injury Project (SCIProject)
• Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
• The Travis Roy Foundation
• National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA)
• The Alan T. Brown Foundation to Cure Paralysis
• Daniel Heumann Fund for Spinal Cord Research
• and several other influential organizations and individuals.

New energy, new funding, new involvement

This initiative has involved new people in the effort to increase support of spinal cord injury research.  It has also resulted in increased education of legislators and the general public on the issues and benefits of increased support for spinal cord injury research.  The spinal cord injury research laws passed to date are already generating over $20 million per year!

To become involved in Quest for the Cure in your state, contact Quest for the Cure at:  intdevel@juno.com.