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Dr Fatimah Ahmedy is a rehabilitation physician and an associate professor at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. She received MBBS from Cardiff University (2006) and conferred Master of Rehabilitation Medicine from Universiti Malaya (2018). Her special interests are spinal cord medicine, SCI rehabilitation, community-based rehabilitation and disability management. She is the Secretary of the Conjoint Board of Master of Rehabilitation Medicine Malaysia and one of the Course Directors for the programme. She has published three books with more than 40 high-indexed journal articles. She was awarded the Spinal Research International grant in the ISCOS 2022, the recipient of Young Researcher Award UMS 2019 (Sience category) and Malaysia’s finalist for UK Alumni Award in Science & Sustainable Category 2021. Currently, she is working on her fourth book for empowering and training rural people as CBR workers, working on developing functioning evaluation among primary care clients and focusing on approaches to promote employment among disabled population.

Dr Fatimah Ahmedy is a rehabilitation physician and an associate professor at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. She received MBBS from Cardiff University (2006) and conferred Master of Rehabilitation Medicine from Universiti Malaya (2018). Her special interests are spinal cord medicine, SCI rehabilitation, community-based rehabilitation and disability management. She is the Secretary of the Conjoint Board of Master of Rehabilitation Medicine Malaysia and one of the Course Directors for the programme. She has published three books with more than 40 high-indexed journal articles. She was awarded the Spinal Research International grant in the ISCOS 2022, the recipient of Young Researcher Award UMS 2019 (Science category) and Malaysia’s finalist for UK Alumni Award in Science & Sustainable Category 2021. Currently, she is working on her fourth book for empowering and training rural people as CBR workers, working on developing functioning evaluation among primary care clients and focusing on approaches to promote employment among disabled population.

Name: Dr. Adel Mohammed ALshahrani Nationality: Saudi Former Director of Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Prince Mohammed Bin Abdelaziz Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 Currently: Consultant of Rehabilitation medicine Specialized in Spinal injuries & Rehabilitation, In Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City (SBAHC) Riyadh-Kingdome of Saudi Arabia from June until 2027 until now Qualifications: MBBS • Fellowship in Spinal Injuries & Rehabilitation at Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries, Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopedic Hospital / Keele University, Oswestry UK. • Jordanian Board in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Skills/Contribution : Physiatrist with expertise in holistic rehabilitation management of: • Spinal Cord Injury • TBI, Stroke, Multiple sclerosis • MSK (Back pain) • Expert in procedures including: • Intrathecal Drug (Baclofen) Delivery Device Refill • Botulinum toxin injections to help manage spasticity Management Experience: • Development of rehabilitation services in Private & public sector hospitals in Saudi Arabia Membership of Organization & Societies: • International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) • Middle East & North Africa SCI Network (MENA) •Member of Exam Committee for Saudi Rehabilitation Board Cell: +966565828582 Email: Dr_ADIIL@HOTMAIL.COM

Dr Shane J.T. Balthazaar is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham's School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences and currently funded by Heart Research United Kingdom. Shane completed his PhD assessing cardiac function following SCI under the supervision of Professor Andrei Krassioukov. Shane's primary interests lie in understanding the impact of disease and physical activity on the cardiovascular system. Shane's expertise extends beyond research, encompassing teaching roles at the University of Birmingham and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. His dedication to mentorship and education is evident in his accolades, including the Outstanding Mentorship Award from Sonography Canada. Shane's impact is reflected through his involvement in various conferences and collaborative initiatives. He has moderated sessions, presented ground-breaking research findings, and engaged in international collaborations, fostering a global exchange of knowledge in cardiovascular health. In addition to his academic pursuits, Shane is actively involved in professional committees, contributing to the advancement of sonography practice and the development of national guidelines. His multifaceted approach to research, teaching, and engagement reflects his commitment to understanding and improving patient care.

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Ines Bersch, a physiotherapist since 1989, is renowned for her contributions to spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation, particularly in functional electrical stimulation (FES). After joining the Swiss Paraplegic Centre in 1991, she became deputy of physiotherapy by 1993 and also taught at various Universities of Applied Science until 2007, specializing in SCI rehabilitation, peripheral nerve lesions, and FES applications. She earned a Bachelor of Education Science in 2008, a Master of Science in Neurorehabilitation Research in 2012, and completed her PhD in Medical Science in 2019, focusing on "Upper and Lower Motoneuron Lesions in Tetraplegia - Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications of Electrical Stimulation." From 2014 to 2017, Ines Bersch led in the role of an instructor a team of 120 therapists, advancing FES, robotics, and evidence-based interventions. The culmination of her efforts led to the establishment of the International FES Centre® at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre in 2018, revolutionizing SCI rehabilitation methodologies. The International FES Centre® offers an annual 2-day course on various FES applications, including neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation. In her role as departmental leader, Ines Bersch advocates for integrating patient-centric care and cutting-edge research, translating clinical trial findings and technological innovations into daily rehabilitation routines. Her focus is on enhancing hand function, optimizing bowel management, and preventing pressure injuries in SCI rehabilitation.

Vanesa is a Senior Research Fellow in Implementation Science at JBI- The University of Adelaide. Vanesa has started her career as a Physiotherapist working in her home country Argentina. Her educational journey continued when she moved to Australia in 2011 with a Master of Applied Science from The University of Sydney and a PhD from Edith Cowan University. Throughout her doctoral studies, she developed a ground-breaking model of neuromuscular electrical stimulation, significantly enhancing musculoskeletal health and quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury. After finishing her PhD studies, she then embarked in a full-time academic as a Neurological Physiotherapy lecturer at CQUniversity, Australia until May 2024. During Vanesa’s work as a lecturer and research at CQUniversity, she has been awarded Bionics Queensland Early-Stage Bionic Innovation Prizes in 2021 and 2022 for her research in the use of electrical stimulation in people with spinal cord injuries, and as such her research has attracted significant international interest. Her background as a Physiotherapist working in Rehabilitation settings in Argentina and Australia allows her to have a broad understanding of the clinical challenges and patient's needs in different parts of the world. She has been specialising in developing better physiotherapy interventions to people with neurological conditions. Vanesa has successfully published 17 Peer reviewed publications and had 25 conference presentations. Total number of citations: 250 and H-index: 9. Link to Google scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=7_lpYMEAAAAJ&hl=en Vanesa is passionate about inspiring health care professionals to implement evidence-based practice, as it will result in improving the physical health and quality of life of people living with physical disabilities.

Vanesa is a Senior Research Fellow in Implementation Science at JBI- The University of Adelaide. Vanesa has started her career as a Physiotherapist working in her home country Argentina. Her educational journey continued when she moved to Australia in 2011 with a Master of Applied Science from The University of Sydney and a PhD from Edith Cowan University. Throughout her doctoral studies, she developed a ground-breaking model of neuromuscular electrical stimulation, significantly enhancing musculoskeletal health and quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury. After finishing her PhD studies, she then embarked in a full-time academic as a Neurological Physiotherapy lecturer at CQUniversity, Australia until May 2024. During Vanesa’s work as a lecturer and research at CQUniversity, she has been awarded Bionics Queensland Early-Stage Bionic Innovation Prizes in 2021 and 2022 for her research in the use of electrical stimulation in people with spinal cord injuries, and as such her research has attracted significant international interest. Her background as a Physiotherapist working in Rehabilitation settings in Argentina and Australia allows her to have a broad understanding of the clinical challenges and patient's needs in different parts of the world. She has been specialising in developing better physiotherapy interventions to people with neurological conditions. Vanesa has successfully published 17 Peer reviewed publications and had 25 conference presentations. Total number of citations: 250 and H-index: 9. Link to Google scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=7_lpYMEAAAAJ&hl=en Vanesa is passionate about inspiring health care professionals to implement evidence-based practice, as it will result in improving the physical health and quality of life of people living with physical disabilities.

Vanesa is a Senior Research Fellow in Implementation Science at JBI- The University of Adelaide. Vanesa has started her career as a Physiotherapist working in her home country Argentina. Her educational journey continued when she moved to Australia in 2011 with a Master of Applied Science from The University of Sydney and a PhD from Edith Cowan University. Throughout her doctoral studies, she developed a ground-breaking model of neuromuscular electrical stimulation, significantly enhancing musculoskeletal health and quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury. After finishing her PhD studies, she then embarked in a full-time academic as a Neurological Physiotherapy lecturer at CQUniversity, Australia until May 2024. During Vanesa’s work as a lecturer and research at CQUniversity, she has been awarded Bionics Queensland Early-Stage Bionic Innovation Prizes in 2021 and 2022 for her research in the use of electrical stimulation in people with spinal cord injuries, and as such her research has attracted significant international interest. Her background as a Physiotherapist working in Rehabilitation settings in Argentina and Australia allows her to have a broad understanding of the clinical challenges and patient's needs in different parts of the world. She has been specialising in developing better physiotherapy interventions to people with neurological conditions. Vanesa has successfully published 17 Peer reviewed publications and had 25 conference presentations. Total number of citations: 250 and H-index: 9. Link to Google scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=7_lpYMEAAAAJ&hl=en Vanesa is passionate about inspiring health care professionals to implement evidence-based practice, as it will result in improving the physical health and quality of life of people living with physical disabilities.

I work as Clinical Nurse Specialist with the gastroenterology physiology team at University College London Hospital. I provide a range of specialist treatments: biofeedback therapy, transanal irrigation and psychological support to patients with complex needs or who are non-responsive to standard bowel care advice. During my previous 14-year-work at patient bedside, I gained experience in gastroenterology, following some clinical experience in oncology, nutrition and neurology. I hold an MSc in Clinical and Public Health Nutrition from University College London and an MSc in Transcultural Multicultural approach in the Field of Health, Social Care and Welfare. My research focus is currently on patients with neurogenic bowel dysfunction due to Spinal Cord Injury, Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson.

Lia Brunn OTR/L, OTD is an occupational therapist at the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute where she studies transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSS) in spinal cord injury. Her research interests include the application of TSS for improvements in gait, upper extremity function, motor control, and functional independence. Clinically, she specializes in the use of innovative technology including 3D design and printing to meet patient goals. She received her doctoral degree in occupational therapy from Washington University in St. Louis in 2013. She also obtained a master’s degree in education with a focus on behavior psychology from the University of Cincinnati in 2016.

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Dr. Thomas Bryce is the Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Program at Mount Sinai. He is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and has sub-specialty certification in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine. He is involved with research related to spinal cord injury especially as it relates to the assessment of pain and neurological function after spinal injury. He is the principle investigator of several ongoing studies in these areas. He has authored numerous chapters and scientific articles on spinal cord injury.

Marjorie Morgan, LPTA is currently a physical therapy assistant/ Research Assistant at Kennedy Krieger Institute, International Center for Spinal Cord Injury. Marjorie has had extensive experience working with patients with Cerebral Palsy and brain injury through Kennedy Krieger’s Specialized Transitional Program and patients with limb deformities at International Center for Limb and Lengthening. In 2008, she transitioned to the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, where she currently treats patients with SCI. As a licensed physical therapist assistant, Marjorie has expertise in addressing the needs of and treating individuals with Spinal Cord Injury and other related disorders. Marjorie also specializes in Wound Care Management and providing lymphedema services to patients. Marjorie educates patients on wound prevention and skin care and mentor/train staff on wound care/wound dressing protocols. As a Research Assistant, Marjorie participates in various clinical research projects in ICSCI. Other duties include assisting with the development and execution of several research projects, routine data verification and quality control, ensuring data integrity with study protocol and data entry into RedCap database.

Julian acts for claimants who have sustained spinal cord and severe brain injury, amputations, and for the families of fatal accident victims. He is also a leading legal commentator, author and lobbyist on legal issues relating to complex injury claims. Julian has successfully recovered more than £160m for clients injured in the UK and across the globe. Julian joined Stewarts in 2000 and was appointed a partner in 2002. He founded the International Injury department in 2007, and built it to become top tier in both Chambers and Legal 500. Julian has authored and contributed to: * Funding International Arbitration by Petit et al, Globe Law & Business * Compensation for Future Losses: An International Comparative Review; JPIL * Personal Injury Schedules textbook by Latimer-Sayer et al; Bloomsbury Press *Ogden Tables, 8th Edition, lead author of section D (Fatal Accidents), summer 2020 Julian has the following accreditations and memberships: * Chair of the Forum of Complex Injuries Solicitors (FOCIS) * APIL Fellow and accredited specialist in Accidents Abroad, Spinal Injury and Fatal Accidents *Member of International Spinal Cord Society (ISCOS) * PEOPIL member

Dr. Chen was trained as a physiatrist in Taiwan and earned a Master of Public Health from Yale University and PhD in epidemiology from UAB. With the unique blend of clinical and research backgrounds, Dr. Chen has been very productive since she joined the UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 1997 and has gained national and international recognition for her work involving spinal cord injury trends, mortality, and long-term outcomes. Her research has been consistently funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, National Institutes of Health, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and industries. Dr. Chen also serves as the Director of the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center that manages the longitudinal National Spinal Cord Injury Database and has continuously provided consultation and technical assistance to investigators within and outside the US with analyzing data from the database for research. Dr. Chen also teaches in the UAB School of Public Health and has served as a mentor/preceptor in various capacities for students, residents, and visiting scholars. Dr. Chen is currently a member of the Editorial Board of the Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, the NINDS Common Data Elements (CDEs) Oversight Committee for the Spinal Cord Injury CDE project, the Executive Board of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Spinal Cord Injury Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group, the International Spinal Cord Injury Data Set Committee, the Prevention Committee of the International Spinal Cord Society as well as the Prevention and Research Committees of the American Spinal Injury Association.

Kırklareli University

Dr. Coker has worked in the field of traumatic SCI since 1997. She obtained a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in May 2001, where she won the James W. Alley Award for Outstanding Service to Disadvantaged Populations, and a PhD in Clinical Science from the University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus in 2020. Dr. Coker has won several awards for research presentations and publications, most recently being awarded the American Spinal Injury Association MJ Mulcahey Award for rehabilitation outcomes measurement. She has been at Craig Hospital since April 2012 and is the Co-Project Director of the SCI Model Systems and PI for several other projects. Dr Coker is also the Chair of the SCI Model Systems Women's Health SIG.

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Dr. James A.G. Crispo is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia. He holds academic appointments as stipendiary faculty in the Human Sciences Division at NOSM University and as an Adjunct Scientist in the Mental Health and Addictions Research Program at ICES. James also serves as the Principal Health Scientist at TruEffect Inc., a Canadian company that specializes in providing professional services in the areas of public and population health, epidemiology, and health risk assessment. James completed a PhD in Population Health at the University of Ottawa, as well as postdoctoral training in the Department of Neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to completing his PhD, James worked at Health Canada in the areas of chemical emergency preparedness and response, and environmental health risk assessment. James is the recipient of many distinguished awards, including a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Doctoral Research Award, a prestigious Fulbright Canada Student Award to the United States, and a Research Trainee Award from Michael Smith Health Research BC. His current research focuses on using administrative claims data to examine health service utilization and outcomes among paediatric populations with spinal cord injury. He is also interested in how electronic health information may be leveraged to improve access to primary care and clinical decision making.

My skills in microsurgery started at a medical practice in military service. The acquired attitude grew ever since and served the first decade of experimentation. They have also influenced my neurosurgical career, attributing to my microsurgical vascular expertise. Having retired, preclinical science could reenter my daily life. Accomplishing an analysis of the preserved former raw data was a dream. Fortunately, having met Professor Steinbusch, he created a perfect ambiance and showed me how to proceed. Our joint contribution may impact future translational science facing today's highly intriguing developments.

After years of working as an ICU and ambulance nurse, I pursued the Physician Assistant program from 2019 to 2022. I graduated as a PA in 2022 and currently work in a clinical department of rehabilitation medicine. My primary focus is on patients with spinal cord injuries.

Sukhneet Dhillon completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of British Columbia, followed by a Master of Science in Medical Physiology at Case Western Reserve University. Following her exposure to biomedical engineering at Cleveland Clinic, Dhillon embarked on a PhD in Biomedical Engineering with the Molecular Mechatronics Lab at the University of British Columbia. Currently, Sukhneet is a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering and serves as an Adjunct Professor with the School of Biomedical Engineering and Faculty of Integrated Sciences. Her primary research focus has been on the use and characterization of nylon actuators in both non-invasive and invasive biomedical applications focusing on improving lower limb circulation.

My professional efforts are predominantly devoted to the restoration of respiratory muscle function in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). I also have a strong interest in respiratory muscle physiology, both basic science and its application to clinical research. My initial interest was sparked by the plight of patients with respiratory failure who were committed to life-long mechanical ventilation. In collaboration with engineers at Case Medical Center, my research team devised a method of diaphragm pacing utilizing minimally invasive techniques. Electrodes can now be placed via laparoscopic surgery to activate the diaphragm and restore ventilation. This method is now commercially available world-wide and has been applied in more than 500 patients. In collaboration with my colleague Dr. Krzysztof Kowalski, we are now working to further improve diaphragm pacing in pilot animal studies (currently funded by the NIH) in which we have demonstrated that the inspiratory muscles can be activated much more physiologically compared to current methods. More recently, our research team has demonstrated in clinical trials that the expiratory muscles can also be electrically activated to restore cough. In patients with SCI, we have shown that use of this device significantly improves the ease in raising secretions, reduces the incidence of respiratory tract infections, and improves life quality. Since this technique requires an invasive procedure, we have also developed a minimally invasive means of electrode placement to improve patient acceptance of this technique. Throughout my career, I have worked in close collaboration with the Cleveland FES Center, of which our research team are members. In collaboration with other FES members, we are currently developing a single multi-system device which can restore multiple functions including cough, arm/hand control, posture and urinary function.

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Professor Belgin Erhan is the Head Physcian at PMR Department of Istanbul Medeniyet University, School of Medicine  She is the Chair of International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) Prevention Committee since 2021 and a Board Member of ISCoS. She is also a fellow at ISCoS Prof. Erhan received her MD degree and completed her residency at Istanbul University in 1989 and 1995 respectively. In 1993 she worked as a visiting resident at West Los Angeles VA Medical Center as a part of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Multicampus PMR Residency Programme. For the last 25 years, she has been writing, publishing and presenting her experiences, observations and trials about the rehabilitation of patients with severe neurological disorders especially SCI and related topics. Produced more than 200 articles for national and international peer review journals. Edited five books in the field of spinal cord injury rehabilitation and spasticity management. She is the founder and the President of national Neurotoxin Society. She is the President of Spinal Cord Injury Study Group of Turkish PMR Specialist Society since 2021. She is the Co-chair of the Spasticity Study Group of Turkish Society of PMR. She had worked for several terms as a board member of national Society of Spinal Cord Diseases which is affiliated with International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS). She is a member of International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM), European Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ESPRM), Turkish Society of PMR and Mediterranean Forum of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (MFPRM) Led over 100 workshops and training symposiums on SCI management, pain management, ultrasound guided botulinum toxin injections, spasticity management, neurologic diseases rehabilitation and osteoporosis management.

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Dr. Michael Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS is the Vice Chair Research for the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto and a Neurosurgeon at Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network. Dr. Fehlings is a Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto, holds the Robert Campeau Family Foundation / Dr. C.H. Tator Chair in Brain and Spinal Cord Research at UHN, and is a Senior Scientist at the Krembil Brain Institute. In the fall of 2008, Dr. Fehlings was appointed the inaugural Director of the University of Toronto Neuroscience Program (which he held until June 2012) and is currently Co-Director of the University of Toronto Spine Program. Dr. Fehlings combines an active clinical practice in complex spinal surgery with a translationally oriented research program focused on discovering novel treatments to improve functional outcomes following spinal cord injury (SCI).

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As a bachelor’s in biology and a master’s in neurobiology from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, I am currently enrolled in a Doctoral Programme in Neuroscience. In the last few years, I have specialized in neuro-urology, mainly focusing on alterations in micturition processes following spinal cord injury. I am especially interested in changes in the urethra and their consequences to the urethro-vesical neuronal crosstalk, which is the main focus of my Ph.D. thesis.

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Melina Giagiozis is a 2nd-year PhD student at the Spinal Cord Injury Research Center of Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich and the Biomedical Data Science Lab of ETH Zürich. Her work is at the intersection of data science, smart sensor technology, and neurology.

Dr Denise Goodwin is the Co-Director of Health and Social Programs at BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash University. She is a behavioural scientist with extensive experience in conducting research to understand individual, community and organisational level changes in attitudes, social norms, priority issues and behaviours. Denise’s academic expertise is built on three pillars central to successful real-world impact: (i) synthesising research knowledge; (ii) contextualising this knowledge against practice within complex systems through consultation with government, industry professionals, citizens and other groups; and (iii) using the information gained to develop, test and embed behaviour change. As such, Denise has worked with a wide range of partners in clinical and community settings, applying behavioural insights to projects designed to improve the health of people living with SCI, to increase their likelihood of adoption in practice.

Ashraf S. Gorgey, MPT, PhD, FACSM, FACRM is the Director of SCI Research at the Richmond VA Medical Center and Professor of PM&R at VCU. He is the Director of the Virginia Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Consortium and the Chair of American Congress of Rehab. Medicine (ACRM) FES and technology task force. His work is investigating rehabilitation strategies that could improve quality of life after SCI, minimize health-related complications and understanding the cellular adaptations to unloading and hypertrophy. His studies examined the effects of electrical stimulation and testosterone therapy on parameters of physical activity including body composition, metabolic profile, and mitochondrial health. He is studying the applications of exoskeleton with and without neuromodulation techniques including epidural stimulation and trans-spinal stimulation on motor recovery. The work is by funded Department of Veteran Affairs, Department of Defense and SCI model system. Dr. Gorgey has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and presented nationally as well as internationally in different scientific meetings.

Ashraf S. Gorgey, MPT, PhD, FACSM, FACRM is the Director of SCI Research at the Richmond VA Medical Center and Professor of PM&R at VCU. He is the Director of the Virginia Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Consortium and the Chair of American Congress of Rehab. Medicine (ACRM) FES and technology task force. His work is investigating rehabilitation strategies that could improve quality of life after SCI, minimize health-related complications and understanding the cellular adaptations to unloading and hypertrophy. His studies examined the effects of electrical stimulation and testosterone therapy on parameters of physical activity including body composition, metabolic profile, and mitochondrial health. He is studying the applications of exoskeleton with and without neuromodulation techniques including epidural stimulation and trans-spinal stimulation on motor recovery. The work is by funded Department of Veteran Affairs, Department of Defense and SCI model system. Dr. Gorgey has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and presented nationally as well as internationally in different scientific meetings.

Natalie Gray is a neuro physiotherapist with extensive experience in acute rehabilitation, management of complex disability and spasticity management. She is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Nottingham, UK, exploring the optimum time to initiate mobilisation following spinal cord injury.

Natalie Gray is a neuro physiotherapist with extensive experience in acute rehabilitation, management of complex disability and spasticity management. She is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Nottingham, UK, exploring the optimum time to initiate mobilisation following spinal cord injury.

Dr Hagen is a specialist in Neurology. She works as a Consultant at the Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark. She is an Associate Professor at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, University College London. She is presently the Treasurer of ISCoS and a member of the Autonomic Committee of ASIA/ ISCoS and Education Committees of ISCoS and ASIA. She is leading the Autonomic Neurorehabilitation (ANSIG) of World Federation of NeuroRehabilitation (WFNR) and member of the Neurorehabilitation panel and the Neurotraumatology panel of European Academy of Neurology.

Annette Halvorsen ph.d., specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, senior consultant at the Department of Spinal Cord Injury, Clinic of Rehabilitation, St. Olavs hospital, Trondheim University Hospital. She is the leader of the Nordic Spinal Cord Injury Registry and the Norwegian Spinal Cord Injury Registry, Department of Medical Quality Registries, St. Olavs hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway.

Angela Philippus, PhD Candidate, is a Research Project Specialist 2 in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School. She has over 15 years of experience in spinal cord injury research. Ms. Philippus’ research focuses on identifying modifiable factors that contribute to psychosocial outcomes after neurologic injury. Ms. Philippus is currently pursuing a doctorate in clinical science at the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus with the goal of becoming an independent rehabilitation researcher. She has led or has been a co-investigator on a number projects highlighting protective factors (i.e., volunteer activity, religious attendance, resilience) and risk factors (i.e., perceived injustice, perceived stigma) associated with psychosocial outcomes after traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.

Researcher, PhD student and former clinical physiotherapist, currently working with paired associative stimulation in spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Since 9/2023 I am studying for a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy for Adults at Charles University. Since 2012 I have been working at the Paraple Centre. First as an OT then as a Senior OT and since 2019 as a Guarantor in the area of Intimate Life, Sexuality and Partnership.I have addressed the area of sexuality of people after spinal cord injury to. Im co-authore of the book Yes We Can! Kama Sutra for Wheelchair Users. I am the founder of the International Sexual Health Rehabilitation Professionals group, which is being formed to support therapists around the world who are addressing the intimate lives of people after spinal cord injury.I am the initiator of the Intimate Life Professional Group under CSML.

Associate Professor; Department of Physiotherapy, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Florianópolis, Brazil.

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Thuvaraha Jeyakumaran (MMASc, Global Health Systems) is a knowledge mobilization specialist working at Parkwood Institute in London, Ontario, Canada, as a member of the Research 2 Practice team. Thuvaraha’s research is focused on healthy equity, knowledge translation and implementation science, especially in the context of marginalized populations. In her experience she has facilitated patient engagement, research knowledge mobilization strategies and the use of health equity impact assessments (HEIA) for engaging various stakeholders including researchers, clinicians, persons with lived experience, policy makers and more to help create informed decisions and mitigation strategies.

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Head SCI Center Orthopaedic Department Ulm Germany Colonel Physician Reserve Member DMGP, SASCA, NOSCoS and ISCoS

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Kamrunnaher is a Lecturer and former Junior Consultant Occupational Therapist at the Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) and a researcher with ten years’ experience in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. She is also a member of the ISCoS prevention committee working with the IDAP project for spinal cord injury prevention locally and internationally. Kamrunnaher’s research interests are returning to work after spinal cord injury and assistive devices. She is currently developing a multidisciplinary integrated care pathway for return to work after spinal cord injury in Bangladesh. This care pathway includes a comprehensive process of work assessment and structured intervention aiming to restore competence and a safe as well as timely return to work. She is also involved in education of rehabilitation science from SAARC country students. She is a current national delegate of world Federation of Occupational Therapist (WFOT). In 2023 she received Spinal research institute SCI Research Collaboration Grant to join ISCoS in Edinburgh.

Kamrunnaher is a Lecturer and former Junior Consultant Occupational Therapist at the Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) and a researcher with ten years’ experience in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. She is also a member of the ISCoS prevention committee working with the IDAP project for spinal cord injury prevention locally and internationally. Kamrunnaher’s research interests are returning to work after spinal cord injury and assistive devices. She is currently developing a multidisciplinary integrated care pathway for return to work after spinal cord injury in Bangladesh. This care pathway includes a comprehensive process of work assessment and structured intervention aiming to restore competence and a safe as well as timely return to work. She is also involved in education of rehabilitation science from SAARC country students. She is a current national delegate of world Federation of Occupational Therapist (WFOT). In 2023 she received Spinal research institute SCI Research Collaboration Grant to join ISCoS in Edinburgh.

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Stefano Negrini is a Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) physician (University of Pavia, Italy) with a PhD in Biomedical Sciences (KU Leuven, Belgium). For more than 30 years, he has practised clinics and research in PRM, with specific attention to patients with spinal disorders and to the implementation of evidence-based medicine in clinical practice. He is full Professor of PRM at the University “La Statale” in Milan, Italy. He is Director of the Laboratory of Evidence-Based Rehabilitation at the University & Research Hospital Galeazzi Sant’Ambrogio and Scientific and Medical Director of ISICO (Italian Scientific Spine Institute) (www.isico.it), both in Milan. He is Associate Graduate Faculty for the program Master of Health Science and Doctor in Philosophy (PhD) in Health Science at Ontario Tech University, Ottawa, Canada. He is the founder and Director of Cochrane Rehabilitation. He has held various positions in various journals, such as honorary Chief Editor of the European Journal of PRM after 18 years of service and sign-off Editor of the Cochrane Library. His current H-Index is 52 (Scopus). The list of his almost 500 PubMed/Medline/Index Medicus papers is available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/1bgXvUkNhDV/bibliography/40554876/public/?sort=date&dire ction=descending).

I am a graduate student at Kyushu University, researching on spinal cord injuries.

Kazuki Kitade is a postdoctral researcher of Kyushu University and also selected as a postdoctoral researcher in the JSPS research fellowship program from 2023. He specializes in cellular biology and works on the investigation of pathogenesis in the spinal cord injury to establish new treatment. He uses neonatal spinal cord injury mouse model to figure out the regenerative capability of neonatal spinal cord. He has also been developing a new method of electrical stimulation of the spinal cord after injury to achieve spinal cord regeneration in the electrical field.

CURRENT POSITION Assistant professor 2021 – present Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyushu University Hospital Fukuoka, Japan EDUCATION & POSTDOCTORAL EXPERIENCE Deputy Department Manager 2019 – 2021 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spinal Injuries Center, Izuka, Japan Orthopedic surgeon 2018 – 2019 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spinal Injuries Center, Izuka, Japan Staff Research Associate 2018 Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Visiting Scholar 2017 – 2018 Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Assistant professor 2016 – 2017 Emergency & Critical Care Center, Kyushu University Hospital Fukuoka, Japan, Research Fellowship for Young Scientists of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 2014 – 2016 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University Fukuoka, Japan Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) 2011 – 2015 Kyushu University, Graduate School of Medical Sciences Fukuoka, Japan Otrhopedic Doctor 2008-2011 Clinical resident 2006-2008 Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) 2000 – 2006 Kyushu University Medical School Fukuoka, Japan HONORS AND AWARDS The Hans Frankel Awards Early Career Scholar Award 2019 International Orthopaedic Postgraduate Basic Science Research Symposium Travel Award 2019 Research Fellowship of The Uehara Memorial Foundation 2017 Encouragement Award of The Japanese Orthopaedic Association 2015 The Research Incentive Award of Orthopedics, Kyushu University 2014 Research Fellowship for Young Scientists, Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science 2013

Doctor in medicine at Barcelona University. Neurology and neurophysiology specialist. She has carried out his research work and clinical training in diverse hospitals and research centers worldwide, including Queen Square Hospital (London-UK), Groningen University Hospital (Groningen-NRL), Barcelona Clinical Hospital, Cerrahpasa University Hospital-Istanbul and Botkinskaya Hospital-Moscow. She is an associated Professor at UAB (Autonomous University of Barcelona) and the Coordinator of Neurophysiology at the Institute Guttmann-Badalona and an established researcher, developing research programs using various non-invasive stimuli (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), vibratory stimulation, transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS)) and using different techniques and treatment effect on the central nervous system (baclofen, cellular therapy, etc.) to determine its effectiveness for functional recovery in subjects with spinal cord injury and brain damage and to determine the plastic changes in the Central Nervous System with H-index factor: 37. She has more than 94 publications in international journals, 3 book chapters.

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Dr Nelleke Langerak works as a senior researcher (research lead spinal cord injury research) at Sint Maartenskliniek in Nijmegen, the Netherlands (NL). She has a background in physiotherapy (BSc, Utrecht, NL), human movement sciences (MSc, Nijmegen, NL) en biomedical engineering (PhD, Cape Town, South Africa) en and enjoys doing interdisciplinary research with a focus on “healthy ageing with a spinal cord injury”.

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I currently work at the Service de Medecine Physique et de Readaptation (PMR department) at Raymond-Poincaré University Hospital, Garches, France. My areas of research are spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis rehabilitation medicine, especially in the respiratory function, and epidemiology.

"Xiang Li, Associate Researcher/Associate Professor at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying spinal cord injury and neural regulation of osteogenic differentiation. He leads a National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) youth project and has contributed as first or corresponding author to publications in esteemed journals including Arthritis & Rheumatology, EMBO Molecular Medicine, and Experimental and Molecular Medicine."

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Clara Lussi is a PhD student and project scientist in the Ageing, Functioning Epidemiology and Implementation Group at Swiss Paraplegic Research. She has a Bachelor's degree with a double major in Nutritional Science and Psychology from the University of Toronto, and a Master's degree from the University of Lucerne in Health Sciences. In 2021, Clara began her PhD with the title 'Long-Term Care for Persons with Spinal Cord Injury in Switzerland'.

I'm an occupational therapist passionate about helping people regain independence and function after a spinal cord injury. My diverse clinical experience working across neurology, pediatrics, and psychiatry allows me to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams to ensure a holistic approach to rehabilitation. I'm committed to empowering individuals with spinal cord injuries to achieve their full potential and reintegrate into their communities.

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MD, MSc, SFEBPMR PMR specialist in General hospital of Athens "G. Gennimatas"

Kimberley Monden, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Licensed Psychologist in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School with experience in spinal cord injury clinical care and research. Dr. Monden’s research focuses on psychosocial adaptation to injury, including resilience and injustice appraisals. She is interested in improving quality of life and long-term psychosocial outcomes after SCI. Dr. Monden also has expertise in dissemination and implementation science. She is the founder and director of the Spinal Cord Injury Psychosocial Outcomes and Wellbeing Research (SCIPOWeR) laboratory. Dr. Monden is the Co-Project Director of the inaugural Minnesota Regional Spinal Cord Injury Model System. She has funding from NIDILRR, DoD, and the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.

I am an associate professor in the physiotherapy Department at the University of Pretoria (UP), where I have been a staff member since March 2002. I obtained PhD in Rehabilitation at UP in 2011. My main research interests are neurorehabilitation with a special interest in spinal cord injuries (SCI) and physiotherapy education (undergraduate research training and clinical education). I am an emerging researcher with numerous publications in my areas of interest (majority of my publications are on SCI rehabilitation). I have successfully supervised to completion 12 masters (6 in SCI rehab) and 4 PhDs (3 in SCI rehab) in the field of neurorehabilitation. I am currently supervising 4 PhDs (2 in SCI rehab) and 2 masters (1 in SCI rehab). Almost all the undergraduate projects I supervised (14/16), were on SCI rehabilitation. I am a long-standing member of the South African Society of Physiotherapy (SASP) and the Southern Africa Spinal Cord Association (SASCA); and have served on executive committees of both organizations.

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Anna Nätkynmäki is Master of Sport Sciences, physiotherapist and doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä and she works at the BioMag Laboratory (HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki and Aalto University School of Science). Her work focuses on paired associative stimulation in spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Luanxiao Nie graduated from the School of Nursing of Jilin University with a bachelor's degree and is currently studying at the School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University.

Susanne Nielsen BSc MPH Physiotherapist with special focus on spinal cord injury, neurology, neurosurgery and respiratory within the acute phase in intensive care in UK and currently in Denmark. Previously, rehabilitation project manager in post disaster areas in China and Haiti, as well as completed project development and project evaluations in China and Mongolia.

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Education: 2003-2009 M.D. Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan 2009-2014 Resident Program, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan 2014-2018 Ph.D. Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, Graduate School (Physiology and Orthopaedic Surgery) Dissertation entitled: “Pretreatment with γ-Secretase Inhibitor Prevents Tumor-like Overgrowth in Human iPSC-Derived Transplant for Spinal Cord Injury. Stem Cell Reports. (Vol. 7, 1-15, 2016)” 2018-2019 Fellow of spine & spinal cord surgeron, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan 2019-2023 Spine Surgeon, Murayama Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Tokyo, Japan. 2023-present Assistant professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan Licensure and Certification: 2009 Japanese Medical License Registration (482333) 2015 Japanese Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (122248) 2020 Board-certified Spine Surgeon (approved by the Board of the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research) Professional Association: Japanese Orthopaedic Association Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Reseach Japan Medical Society of Spinal Cord Lesion Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine Society for Neuroscience Orthopaedic Research Society

Dr. Antonio Oliviero career started in Rome (Catholic University) where he obtained the degree in Medicine (Oct 1993) and the degree in Neurology (Oct 1997). In the same University, Dr Oliviero obtained the PhD in Neuroscience (Jan 2002). The actual position of Dr Oliviero is Neurologist and head of the Neurology Section and research group leader (FENNSI Group: Functional Exploration and Neuromodulation of the Nervous System) at the Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos located in Toledo (Spain). Dr Oliviero published more than 200 papers in international peer-reviewed journals. These articles have been cited more than 24000 times (google scholar) and the H index of Dr Oliviero is 67 (google scholar). The main research fields of Dr Oliviero are neuromodulation of the central nervous system, brain plasticity, functional exploration of the (motor) cortex and pain processing and treatment, spinal cord injury evaluation and treatment, evaluation, and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr. Oliviero is president of the Spanish Association for Brain Stimulation and founder of the European Society for Brain Stimulation. Dr. Antonio Oliviero is (or was) the Principal Investigator of several funded projects and grants funded with more than Euros 3.5 million from European Commission, MJF Foundation (US), IRP (Ch), Ministry of Economy (Spain), ISCIII (Spain), etc . Dr. Antonio Oliviero is (or was) the Principal Investigator of the following clinical trials (related to spinal cord injury, Parkinson disease, pain and fatigue): TRA-173 (GH and SCI, FHNP), NFX-88 (Neurofix SA), Neurocells (Neuroplast), RIMOFATSCI-1 (FHNP), SCI2 (Neuroplast) and RIMOFATSCI-2 (FHNP).

Ana Oña is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Health Economics Group at Swiss Paraplegic Research. She obtained her Ph.D. in Health Science from the University of Lucerne in 2023, specializing in health economics. She also holds an M.Sc. in Statistics from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2018) and an M.Sc. in Economics from FLACSO-Ecuador (2015). As a Ph.D. student and teaching assistant at Swiss Paraplegic Research (2019-2023) she contributed to health system comparison projects. Her 2022 internship at Viasuisse AG involved forecast and data analysis, focusing on traffic accidents and canton policies in Switzerland. Ana's academic journey includes teaching roles at Chile's Universidad de Atacama (2018-2019) and research at the Ecuadorian Tax Administration (2011-2016), focusing on forecast and public policy evaluation. Her research interests encompass health economics, applied economics, income inequality, and public policy, as reflected in significant contributions to publications addressing unmet healthcare needs and health inequalities.

Dr Raymond P. Onders is Professor of Surgery at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. He is honored with the Walter and Margaret Remen Chair of Surgical Innovation. Over the last 25 years, he has focused his research efforts on ways to help people breathe naturally using their own diaphragm. He has authored multiple publications and book chapters on the primary muscle of breathing –the diaphragm. Diaphragm pacing, electrical stimulation of the diaphragm muscle, is a technology aimed at either replacing or delaying the need for mechanical ventilation or maintaining and improving normal breathing. One of his first research subjects was the late Christopher Reeve (Superman). Diaphragm pacing technology was recognized as one of the most important medical innovations at the 6th Medical Innovation Summit in 2008. His advancements in the technology of pacing the diaphragm have led to multiple patents. He co-founded the medical device company Synapse Biomedical which helped to bring this technology to patients. He has given invited lectures around the world and presented his research at numerous scientific meetings. He has helped spread this knowledge training surgeons to do the diaphragm pacing operation in over 35 countries which has helped countless patients worldwide. His present research focuses on using diaphragm pacing to shorten the time to wean from a ventilator on all intensive care unit patients which is one of the largest health care expenditures in the United States. With the possibility of a shortage of ventilators early in the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked and obtained emergency use authorization by the FDA of the new temporary pacing system in 2020. This has led to multiple new applications of the use of temporary diaphragm pacing wires to decrease ventilator times significantly in cardiac and lung transplant patients.

Dr Raymond P. Onders is Professor of Surgery at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. He is honored with the Walter and Margaret Remen Chair of Surgical Innovation. Over the last 25 years, he has focused his research efforts on ways to help people breathe naturally using their own diaphragm. He has authored multiple publications and book chapters on the primary muscle of breathing –the diaphragm. Diaphragm pacing, electrical stimulation of the diaphragm muscle, is a technology aimed at either replacing or delaying the need for mechanical ventilation or maintaining and improving normal breathing. One of his first research subjects was the late Christopher Reeve (Superman). Diaphragm pacing technology was recognized as one of the most important medical innovations at the 6th Medical Innovation Summit in 2008. His advancements in the technology of pacing the diaphragm have led to multiple patents. He co-founded the medical device company Synapse Biomedical which helped to bring this technology to patients. He has given invited lectures around the world and presented his research at numerous scientific meetings. He has helped spread this knowledge training surgeons to do the diaphragm pacing operation in over 35 countries which has helped countless patients worldwide. His present research focuses on using diaphragm pacing to shorten the time to wean from a ventilator on all intensive care unit patients which is one of the largest health care expenditures in the United States. With the possibility of a shortage of ventilators early in the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked and obtained emergency use authorization by the FDA of the new temporary pacing system . This has led to multiple new applications of the use of temporary diaphragm pacing wires to decrease ventilator times significantly in cardiac patients and lung transplant patients.

Rutger Osterthun is a PRM physician and senior researcher in the field of spinal cord injury at the Rijndam Rehabilitation Center and the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of the Erasmus University Medical Center. After obtaining his PhD in 2018 on “Outcomes after spinal cord injury” he is responsible for the research line on spinal cord injury which focuses on improving mobility with innovative solutions to improve both daily functioning as well as health. He initiated several research projects, including evaluation of regional health care pathways, ambulatory behavior, gait diagnostics and development and evaluation of new technological devices to improve mobility.

Physiotherapist Technical Supervisor of Acreditando Neuromotor Recovery, Health and Wellness Center

Dr Ponzano's research is focussed on preventing falls and fractures and improving health-related quality of life in people with neurological disabilities.

Dr Ponzano's research is focussed on preventing falls and fractures and improving health-related quality of life in people with neurological disabilities.

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Consultant Respiratory Physician

Consultant Respiratory Physician

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Dr. Eline Scholten is a postdoc researcher at the Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine in Utrecht, a collaboration between the Department of Rehabilitation at the University Medical Center Utrecht and the De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, both in the Netherlands. She studied Interdisciplinary Social Science at Utrecht University. After graduation in 2013, she worked as a junior researcher at the IVO Addiction Research Institute. In 2015 she started as a PhD-student at the Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine. In 2020 she completed her thesis titled 'Significance of the significant other', which emphasized the importance of paying attention to the well-being of significant others of patients in rehabilitation care. In addition, early identifiable risk factors were investigated that can predict an increased risk of later psychosocial problems among patients with spinal cord injury or acquired brain injury who were clinically admitted to a rehabilitation center and their significant others. Currently, she is involved in various studies and projects focusing on measuring rehabilitation outcomes, using Patient Reported Outcome Measures, and involving the family in rehabilitation practice.

After finishing my master's degrees in biochemical engineering and molecular and cellular neuroscience, I enrolled in a joint PhD program at the Bio-Imaging Lab (University Antwerp) and the University of Namur. In my research I aim to enhance prediction of behavioral outcome after spinal cord injury utilizing preclinical models of SCI. By employing advanced, non-invasive imaging methodologies (SV2A PET, diffusion MRI, structural MRI) I am searching for early prognostic indicators for injury outcomes, facilitating targeted care and the development of novel treatments.

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Vanessa is a physician and researcher with a passion for improving innovative and evidence-based rehabilitation, with a focus on strengthening rehabilitation services within health systems. She graduated from the University of Antioquia, Colombia in 2013 and as a specialist in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in 2017. She became interested in rehabilitation very early in her medical studies. In 2011, Vanessa joined the Rehabilitation in Health Research Group, first as a research assistant and later as a researcher and lecturer at the Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Antioquia. In the research group, she developed clinical practice guidelines for the Colombian government, measured disability and quality of life in older adults who had suffered traffic accidents, and developed a university model for the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in higher education. From 2020 until joining the University of Lucerne, she worked at the Sensory Functions, Disability and Rehabilitation Unit of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the development of the Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation as part of the WHO Rehabilitation 2030 initiative. In May 2023, she completed a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her thesis focused on the effect of sex hormone levels during the acute rehabilitation phase after spinal cord injury and their impact on functioning. In 2021, Vanessa joined the team of Prof. Carla Sabariego to work in the field of rehabilitation and healthy ageing, where she has conducted research on models of rehabilitation service delivery at the University of Lucerne and on the challenges of ageing with a spinal cord injury at the Swiss Paraplegic Research in Nottwil.

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-MPT(Neurology), BPT, MDCPT, MIAP, HCPC registered Physiotherapist, Lifetime Member Spinal Cord Society of India. -Currently practicing at Brookfields Hospital, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation trust, United Kingdom as a Senior Physiotherapist. - Ex Physiotherapist at Spine & Rehabilitation Department- Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, New Delhi, India. -A young Physiotherapist passionately helping individuals with spinal cord injuries reach their therapeutic goals and gain functional independence. -Founder of Rehabilitation essentials- providing low-cost assistive technology to individuals with SCI in India.

Abby Spadzinski is a recent graduate from the Health Sciences program at Western University in London, Ontario. As an early career researcher, Abby is passionate about co-design and learning about the lived experience of others. Abby currently is working in the Research to Practice lab at Parkwood Institute in London, Ontario.

I hold a master's degree in Biomedical Engineering from ETH Zurich and I am currently in my first year of PhD at the Swiss Paraplegic Research. I focus on investigating cognitive deficits in spinal cord injury using neuroimaging techniques.

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Alicia is a dedicated scholar currently pursuing her PhD studies at the University of Stellenbosch, focusing on the development of clinical research frameworks. Holding a Master of Occupational Therapy degree from the same institution, obtained in 2022, Alicia has established herself as a promising researcher in the field. Her primary research interest lies in exploring remote work practices for individuals with spinal cord injuries, with a particular emphasis on fostering occupational justice within the labor force. Alicia's scholarly endeavors have culminated in the publication of a Journal Article in the esteemed Occupational Therapy International Journal. Alicia's contributions extend beyond academia, as evidenced by her active participation in conferences such as the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) Congress and the World Disability and Rehabilitation Congress in 2022. Her engagement with the scholarly community dates back to 2018 when she presented her research on therapeutic apparatus utilization in South Africa at the WFOT Congress through a poster presentation. Currently serving as a clinician in the South African public sector, Alicia's professional responsibilities revolve around providing rehabilitation services to adults with spinal cord injuries. Her role is centered on facilitating community reintegration and assisting individuals in reentering the workforce post-injury. Moreover, Alicia has demonstrated leadership by initiation of the Occupational Therapy SCI Work Group within the Western Cape Metro, South Africa. Through this initiative, she aims to enhance collaboration and strengthen care pathways across various levels of care, underscoring her commitment to improving healthcare outcomes and promoting interdisciplinary cooperation. Alicia's multifaceted contributions to both research and clinical practice underscore her dedication to advancing the field of occupational therapy, particularly concerning spinal cord injury rehabilitation and occupational justice.

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Teri Thorson was a support technician for a computer software company and professional dancer before a 1996 motor vehicle crash in Australia left her a C6 tetraplegic. Her role with Spinal Cord Injury BC as the Manager of Peer Coaching and Outreach allows her to be involved in SCI Research as a recruitment specialist as well as researcher. Teri is a former Paralympian having competed at the 2004 Athens Paralympics in the 400m track as well as a former provincial wheelchair rugby athlete and coach. She lives in Vancouver, Canada with her partner and 14 year old son Lucian and volunteers as a board member of BC Wheelchair Sports, President of the BC Wheelchair Rugby Association and World Wheelchair Rugby Global Advancement of Female Participation Task Group.

current position: MD, Urology Medical Doctor in Regional Urology Center Rivne Regional Hospital, MD in Rivne Regional Cancer Center (Ukraine) Associate Professor Institute of Health Care University of Water Management and Environmental Engineering PhD, MD, Assoc. Prof. Liliya Tryfonyuk has been graduated in Bukovina State Medical University (Ukraine) in 2006 (with honors) and received a master's degree in medicine. Later, she completed a full cycle of residency in Ukraine and received the title of urologist. Having worked for more than 15 years in the Regional Oncology Center and Regional Clinical Hospital, he has considerable experience in oncourology and general urology. In addition, he has interest and experience in reconstructive urogynecology, new minimally invasive technologies. Since 2018, he has been an expert on urology in his region. Numerous internships, master classes have enriched practical experience. Since 2017, together with Ukrainian reconstructive associations, several master classes on reconstructive urology and gynaecology have been held (with the support of Dr. Francisco Martin (past President-Elect of GURS). In 2018, she was awarded the state presidential award (Order of Princess Olga III century) and the Certificate of Honor of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Studied at a postgraduate course at the Warsaw Military Institute, where she received a PhD in medicine in 2020 (dissertation with honors). At the moment, she works as a urologist at the Rivne Regional Oncology Center and Rivne Regional Clinical Hospital and as an associate professor at the Institute of Health Care in Ukraine and on voluntary base in Rivne Veterans Hospital trying with colleagues made a functional urology (incl urodynamic study) to help spinal cord injured patients (this only one and unique such center in all west Ukrainian region). Author and co-author of more than 90 scientific articles, 9 textbooks and 4 monographs, 3 utility model patents.

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PhD Student at University Medical Center Groningen. Sustainable work after spinal cord injury.

Christel van Leeuwen studied neuro- and rehabilitation psychology at the Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands and completed her studies cum laude. In 2011, she completed her PhD thesis on quality of life in persons with spinal cord injury at the University of Utrecht. She travelled to Switzerland to obtain more experience in spinal cord injury in Nottwil. Her research focus is on the implementation of psychological factors in treatment programmes of spinal cord injury. Since 2013, she works in Rehabilitation Centre De Hoogstraat in the Netherlands, as a psychologist and post-doc researcher in the spinal cord department. She set up several interventions for persons with SCI (mindfulness, ACT, self-management, VR and pain). At the moment, she is doing a research project on the impact of SCI on identity in persons with SCI.

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Antonio Vecchio is currently the Community and Consumer engagement manager at the Spinal Research Institute in Melbourne. Antonio has a background in psychological science and sociology with particular interest areas been social psychology and developmental psychology. He is vastly experienced and program development as well as having experience working in the community with various community groups and community-based organisations.

Wouter Vints currently works as a medical doctor specializing in rehabilitation medicine at Adelante Hoensbroek, a rehabilitation centre in the Netherlands. He did a master in Sports Medicine at KULeuven in Belgium. He is a PhD student at Lithuanian Sports University and Maastricht University the Netherlands. The topic of his PhD is muscle-brain crosstalk. He focusses on the mediating role of exerkines/myokines in the exercise effect on brain health and cognitive function.

As a physiotherapist and researcher, I am dedicated to bridging the gap between practice and research. My focus is to address practical questions to enhance patient care. Central to my work is the prevention of secondary complications, such as pressure ulcers, in individuals with spinal cord injuries.

Dr. Dalton Wolfe is a Scientist at Parkwood Institute (SJHC London and Lawson Health Research Institute) and an Assistant Professor (part-time) in the School of Health Studies (Faculty of Health Sciences) at Western University in London Ontario Canada. Dalton leads the R2P (Research 2 Practice) team at Parkwood Institute that integrates clinical and research efforts to improve care and clinical outcomes. This is a clinically embedded group that supports clinical practice through application of implementation science and incorporates a participatory, patient-centred approach to build practice-based research initiatives that integrate research and education within clinical practice. This approach has ensured that research questions and resulting initiatives have resonance in the “real world” and have practical application towards the ultimate goal of enhancing health for people with neurological impairments.

Dr. Dalton Wolfe is a Scientist at Parkwood Institute (SJHC London and Lawson Health Research Institute) and an Assistant Professor (part-time) in the School of Health Studies (Faculty of Health Sciences) at Western University in London Ontario Canada. Dalton leads the R2P (Research 2 Practice) team at Parkwood Institute that integrates clinical and research efforts to improve care and clinical outcomes. This is a clinically embedded group that supports clinical practice through application of implementation science and incorporates a participatory, patient-centred approach to build pragmatic research initiatives that integrate research and education within clinical practice. This approach has ensured that research questions and resulting initiatives have resonance in the “real world” and have practical application towards the ultimate goal of enhancing health for people with neurological impairments.

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Dr. Giuseppe A. Zito obtained his Master's Degree with honours in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Rome “Sapienza” in 2012, and a PhD also in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Bern in 2016. He had several research stays at the Inselspital Bern, the Sorbonne University in Paris and the ETH Zurich, where he applied neuroimaging techniques to study the pathophysiological mechanisms of neurological disorders, such as cervical dystonia, Gilles de la Tourette disorder and functional movement disorders. In January 2023, Giuseppe has been appointed Group Leader of the Advanced Imaging Research (AIR) Group at Swiss Paraplegic Research. His current research focus is on neuroimaging of cognition in SCI.