Not long ago, scientists believed restoring function after spinal cord injury (SCI) was an impossibility. But today, just one year after the FDA approved the ARCEX® System, more than 50 clinics across the country are delivering this life-changing therapy to people with SCI — and the future of SCI care has never been more promising.
From the beginning, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has been committed to defying expectations — to advancing real, patient-centered solutions that not only extend people’s lives but also make them more comfortable. In June, we co-hosted the third annual SCI Investor Symposium with Lineage Cell Therapeutics, our first fully virtual gathering. This event fosters critical conversations among researchers, industry, clinicians, and people living with SCI — conversations that will accelerate our dialogue with the FDA on patient-focused drug development.
Our mission is ambitious: to improve every aspect of life after injury — from mobility and bladder and bowel function to cardiovascular health, pain management, and skin integrity. That’s why we continue to support bold, high-risk, high-reward projects that push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Right now, we’re reviewing full proposals submitted through our latest Request for Applications, a process focused on advancing preclinical translational research with direct relevance to the SCI community. The creativity and commitment we’ve seen in these applications is inspiring — and we’re excited to fund a wide range of approaches with the potential to deliver measurable, functional results.
At the same time, our STRIVE (Standardized Testing Research In Vivo Endeavor) initiative is progressing at pace. Data collection is complete across two preclinical models, and we have shared preliminary findings at leading scientific conferences, including the American Spinal Injury Association’s annual meeting. These efforts lay the groundwork for stronger, more reproducible science and more strategic future investments.
In research, real progress isn’t measured by headlines — it’s measured by impact. And thanks to your partnership, that impact is growing. Together, we’re reshaping what’s possible and building a future where individuals with SCI have access to a diverse range of therapies that restore function, dignity and independence.
Marco Baptista, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer
The Foundation held its inaugural Team LeGrand Golf Classic, presented by Prudential at Metuchen Golf and Country Club in Edison, NJ, on July 14. Established in 1931, Metuchen Golf and Country Club has long been a venue for top-level competition. The outing raised over $100,000 toward the Foundation’s mission, with over 120 golfers participating and an amazing list of corporate supporters!
“Golf gave us a reason to gather, but the real purpose was bigger — to fuel research, raise awareness, and remind people that life with a spinal cord injury doesn’t mean giving up. It means pushing forward, together,” said Eric LeGrand.
The Reeve Golf Classic returned to the legendary Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, NY on August 18 — one of the nation’s most prestigious courses — to raise funds to advance cures for SCI and improve the lives of those living with paralysis. The event, honoring Jeremy London, Executive Partner, Skadden, raised over $800,000.
London’s dedication to the Reeve Foundation is deeply personal and rooted in a longtime friendship with Alan T. Brown, a fellow advocate and director at the Foundation. Witnessing his friend’s courage and commitment to helping others following an injury that rendered him quadriplegic more than 30 years ago, Jeremy was inspired and grew to become actively involved with the Reeve Foundation.
His involvement, alongside the committee, is to champion participation efforts to raise funds that promote research and enhance the quality of life for individuals and families affected by paralysis.
“Watching Alan turn his own story into a mission to help others has been remarkable,” Jeremy says. “It’s an honor to support him and the incredible impact of the Reeve Foundation — and with the energy and enthusiasm of everyone attending the Reeve Golf Classic, I know there’s so much more we can do together to make a lasting difference for those living with spinal injuries.”
Despite major strides in SCI research, proposed federal funding cuts threaten to stall progress.
The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) — a key Department of Defense initiative — is facing a $40 million reduction to its Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP). Additional funding threats at the National Institutes of Health could further slow innovation, reducing the number of potential therapies moving toward FDA approval and commercialization.
These cuts come on the heels of the landmark approval of ONWARD Medical’s ARCEX, underscoring how close we are to real breakthroughs — and how devastating it would be to lose momentum now.
The Reeve Foundation’s commitment to funding Tomorrow’s Cures is more critical than ever. As public funding shrinks, more researchers are turning to us to sustain and accelerate their work.
Donate today to help keep SCI research moving forward.
Donate today to help SCI research moving forward.
