NEWS
May 18, 2013
Racing memorabilia, trips and more to be auctioned at SSPF fundraiser!
Tickets still available for Wednesday's Racing to Recovery Gala
Interested in a Napa Valley wine tasting trip? A behind-the-scenes walrus tour at the zoo? How about an Indiana Pacers basketball signed by ABA legends including Mel Daniels, George McGinnis and Bobby “
May 10, 2013
Bid now on 2005 Indy 500 coin collection!
Rare set signed and carried by 32 drivers in historic race
In advance of the Racing To Recovery Gala on May 22, SSPF is offering a chance to bid early on selected items, including an outstanding collection of signed coins from the 2005 Indianapolis 500.
April 9, 2013
SSPF to honor Al Speyer at Racing to Recovery Gala
Tickets available now for star-studded Indy event
The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (SSPF) announces it will host the 14th annual Racing to Recovery Gala Wednesday, May 22, at The Crane Bay in downtown Indianapolis.
NEWS
¦ September 17, 2010
EXCITING NEW STUDY ON TREATMENT OF CHRONIC PAIN AFTER SCI
Grant provided to Dr. Edgar Walters, University of Texas at Houston
The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation is committed to curing paralysis. The Foundation recently provided a grant to assist a research project being undertaken by Dr. Edgar Walters, Professor of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Dr. Walters’ project involves adaptive responses of neurons to injury and stress.
Background
Unfortunately, agonizing SCI pain is often untreatable. Previous research on basic mechanisms of SCI pain has focused on alterations in surviving spinal neurons that lie in pain pathways, often examining effects of local inflammation and death of other neurons on responses of these central neurons.
Until this study, little attention had been paid to the peripheral sensory neurons called “nociceptors” that sense injurious events in the body and excite spinal pain neurons. Normally silent until awakened by the peripheral injury, the spontaneous activity of the nociceptors results in sensitivity of central pain pathways, leading to chronic pain.
The Project
Dr. Walters hypothesized that persistent spontaneous activity of nociceptors after SCI should increase the activity and sensitivity of central pain pathways, just as it does after peripheral injury. In focusing on the role of nociceptors after a spinal cord injury, Dr. Walters and his team are exploring a novel approach to treating SCI pain.
Said Dr. Walters, “Data collected so far has provided strong evidence to support the hypothesis. These finding represent the first evidence for an unexpected and potentially important source of chronic pain in patients living with SCI. A major paper describing our results was just accepted by the Journal of Neuroscience.”
We are excited to be playing a part in Dr. Walters’ groundbreaking research, and will continue to follow this promising development in the treatment of chronic pain after SCI.