Nur Shazana Ahmad Mazni is a Rehabilitation Medicine trainee based at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya (PPUM). She has clinical experience in managing individuals with neurological conditions, including spinal cord injury and stroke, within multidisciplinary rehabilitation settings. Her academic work includes research on healthcare delivery and quality of life among persons with spinal cord injury in Malaysia, with findings that highlight gaps in access to care and their impact on long-term outcomes. she has contributed to abstracts and case reports in neurorehabilitation, including presentations on complex cervical spinal cord injury cases. Her work reflects a commitment to advancing evidence-based rehabilitation practice and improving healthcare system to better support individuals living with long-term disabilities.

Asilah Ahmad Shukor is a postgraduate trainee in Rehabilitation Medicine at University Malaya. She is currently practicing at Hospital Rehabilitasi Cheras, where she is involved in the comprehensive management of patients with a wide range of disabilities, focusing on optimizing function, independence, and quality of life. She works within a multidisciplinary team, emphasizing a holistic and patient-centered approach that integrates medical care with individualized rehabilitation strategies.

Consultant, Rehabilitation department, KAT Hospital

Anika Tabassum Antora is currently working as a Lecturer in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Bangladesh Health Professions Institute (BHPI), Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), Bangladesh. She was honored with the ASCoN–ISCoS Observership Award 2025. She is committed to promoting evidence-based occupational therapy practice and advancing rehabilitation services through high-quality research, education, and international collaboration.

Anika Tabassum Antora is currently working as a Lecturer in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Bangladesh Health Professions Institute (BHPI), Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), Bangladesh. She was honored with the ASCoN–ISCoS Observership Award 2025. She is committed to promoting evidence-based occupational therapy practice and advancing rehabilitation services through high-quality research, education, and international collaboration.

Shane is a postdoctoral fellow at the Spinal Cord Injury Center at Balgrist University Hospital in Switzerland and has a background in cardiovascular physiology and echocardiography. His research focuses on cardiovascular and autonomic dysfunction after spinal cord injury, with particular interest in exercise, neuromodulation, and early markers of cardiovascular risk. Shane has experience spanning clinical cardiology, rehabilitation research, and advanced cardiac imaging in Canada, the USA, the UK, and now Switzerland. His work combines various cardiovascular and autonomic monitoring strategies to better understand mechanisms of change after injury and to support the development of targeted interventions to improve long-term health outcomes for people living with SCI.

Linda is an Associate Professor and Graduate Research Coordinator in the Occupational Therapy Department at Monash University, Australia. She has many years of clinical experience working with people with spinal cord injury (SCI), prior to joining Monash University as a teaching and research academic. Linda's PhD and subsequent research and engagement program has focused on maximising the social, economic and community participation of people with SCI. She has been an investigator on over 3 million dollars of funded research, including an RCT implementing a trial of an early vocational rehabilitation service for people following traumatic injury. Her research uses participatory, co-design and qualitative methods to understand the lived experience.

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"Muhamad Shaiful Lizam Bin Mohd Anuar is a medical officer at goverment hospital in Kelantan, Malaysia, specialized in rehabilitation medicine."

Dr. Bryan Amiel L. Brey is a resident physician in Rehabilitation Medicine at the Philippine Orthopedic Center, a premier national apex center for musculoskeletal and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. He is actively involved in clinical research targeting traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI), evaluating the impact of clinical baselines and inpatient efficiency on long-term independence. Dr. Brey is committed to refining institutional clinical pathways, promoting early mobilization protocols, and establishing robust outpatient transition programs to elevate the standard of physiatric care in the Philippines.

Lia Brunn, OTR/L, OTD is an occupational therapist at the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger. Here she works as part of an interdisciplinary research team studying the impact of combinatorial training and transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation on function in people who have spinal cord injuries. She has worked in spinal cord injury for 12 years and is passionate about studying and implementing new technologies and strategies to maximize outcomes in this population.

Dr. Quyen Catania serves as the Clinical Training and Education Coordinator at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s International Center for Spinal Cord Injury. She earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Catania holds multiple advanced clinical certifications, including Certified Wound Specialist (2016), Certified Lymphedema Therapist (2017), and Neurologic Clinical Specialist (2020). Throughout her career, Dr. Catania has authored and presented work on skin tears, pressure injuries, pediatric telehealth, and lymphedema within the spinal cord injury population. In her current role, she collaborates closely with clinicians, researchers, and subject‑matter experts to strengthen workforce education and clinical competency across the continuum of care. Most recently, Dr. Catania has focused on elevating sexual health as a core component of rehabilitation practice. She has led efforts to expand staff training, integrate inclusive communication strategies, and address the long‑standing gap between sexual health needs and provider preparedness in the spinal cord injury community.

Dr. H. S. Chhabra, is the Director of Spine and Rehabilitation at SBAMI, New Delhi, India. He is the President of Spinal Cord Society and Association of National Board Accredited Institutions. He is the Past President of International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS), Association of Spine Surgeons of India and Spine Society Delhi Chapter. He is an Executive member of Spine20 (a non-official Engagement group of G20 and an advocacy group of Global Spine Societies) and was the Chair of Spine20 2023. His expertise is grounded by more than 30 years of clinical and academic experience as a Spine Surgeon. Research projects and initiatives includes ISCoS textbook on ‘Comprehensive Management of Spinal Cord Injuries’, elearnSCI.org (an online learning web based portal for health professionals), SCI Day and ISCoS Spinal Cord Injury Database (IDAP). Two of the key points of the overarching recommendations have been implemented by the Ministy – Injury Prevention Week and Injury Prevention Program (in process of finalization). He is now lobbying for the implementation of a National Spine Care Program, one of the main recommendations of Spine20 2023. Dr Chhabra has over 201 publications in peer reviewed journals and 27 full-length chapters to his credit besides being the immediate past Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma and reviewer of leading journals/ textbooks around the globe. He has been a recipient of some of the major prestigious awards like ISCoS Society Medal Award for 2013, Asian Spinal Cord Network (ASCoN) Star award, XXIII National Excellency Award by TP Jhunjhunwala Foundation, India News National Health Award and Association of Spine Surgeons of India research awards for 8 years amongst which 6 were consecutive years.

Punam D Costa is a physiotherapist with a B.Sc in Physiotherapy (University of Dhaka, Bangladesh) and MPhil in Medicine (The University of Sydney, Australia). She was the recipient of prestigious Australia Awards Scholarship. She is currently working as a lecturer, department of Rehabilitation Science at Bangladesh Health Professions Institute (BHPI) since 2022. She has more than 8 years clinical and research experience in the field of spinal cord injuries (SCI). She worked with people with SCI all over Bangladesh in both hospital and community setting that provided her lived experience of the challenges faced by people with SCI in Bangladesh and working with different stakeholders to mitigate the challenges. In addition, she has brief experience of working in public health response of New South Wales (NSW) Health during the Covid-19 pandemic. She has keen research interest on the area of spinal cord injury, disability, rehabilitation and social inclusion.

Miss Yushen Dai has published six peer-reviewed journal articles and applying a Hong Kong invention patent. Her primary research interests include mental health, physical disability, digital health innovations, and family care for autism spectrum disorder.

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.

Dr Jamie Ellis is an early career researcher working to develop a peer support intervention for children with spinal cord disorders, and to coordinate and oversee the implementation of a national spinal cord disorder registry, involving collaboration with several stakeholders and rehabilitation settings across Australia. Jamie recently completed her doctoral studies investigating paediatric spinal cord disorders at the University of Melbourne, with the Royal Children’s Hospital and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Her project explored the effects of spinal cord damage on the musculoskeletal health in children, utilising a scoping review, a clinical audit and an observational clinical study. Her doctoral work yielded five peer-reviewed publications, and she was awarded a PhD Top Up Scholarship for her candidature and the Harold Mitchell Foundation Postdoctoral Travel Fellowship. Prior to this, Jamie completed her Master of Biomedical Science in the Department of Physiology at the University of Melbourne, where she explored the mechanisms underlying muscle wasting as they pertain to disease, and potential approaches to combating muscle wasting. When she is not researching, Jamie competes in show-jumping events across Australia and treasures her time with her beloved border collie Rosie.

Dr Jamie Ellis is an early career researcher working to develop a peer support intervention for children with spinal cord disorders, and to coordinate and oversee the implementation of a national spinal cord disorder registry, involving collaboration with several stakeholders and rehabilitation settings across Australia. Jamie recently completed her doctoral studies investigating paediatric spinal cord disorders at the University of Melbourne, with the Royal Children’s Hospital and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Her project explored the effects of spinal cord damage on the musculoskeletal health in children, utilising a scoping review, a clinical audit and an observational clinical study. Her doctoral work yielded five peer-reviewed publications, and she was awarded a PhD Top Up Scholarship for her candidature and the Harold Mitchell Foundation Postdoctoral Travel Fellowship. Prior to this, Jamie completed her Master of Biomedical Science in the Department of Physiology at the University of Melbourne, where she explored the mechanisms underlying muscle wasting as they pertain to disease, and potential approaches to combating muscle wasting. When she is not researching, Jamie competes in show-jumping events across Australia and treasures her time with her beloved border collie Rosie.

Prof. Belgin Erhan, MD Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist and Pain Medicine Specialist, Istanbul, Turkey 
Professor Belgin Erhan is the Head Physcian at Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, 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. Prof. Erhan received her MD degree and completed her residency at Istanbul University. 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. Her areas of expertise are the rehabilitation of spinal cord injury, pain management and spasticity management. She is a nationally recognized trainer on ultrasound guided botulinum toxin injections. She is a member of ISPRM Spasticity SIG and Pain SIG She is the founder and the President of national Neurotoxin Society. She is the chair of the Spasticity Study Group of Turkish Society of PMR.

Anya is a Senior Physiotherapist at the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre, working closely within the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to optimise patient care and rehabilitation outcomes. She has a particular interest in physical activity following spinal cord injury (SCI), including exercise prescription, the impact of exercise on physical and psychological well-being, and opportunities for adapted sport. She is also passionate about supporting individuals in their journey towards returning to sport and achieving their personal goals.

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Giuseppina Frasca is a specialist in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at the Unipolar Spinal Unit and Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Unit of the Policlinico di Bari–Giovanni XXIII. Her clinical expertise focuses on pelvic floor rehabilitation, particularly the assessment and multidisciplinary management of neurogenic bowel dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury and complex neurological disabilities.

I am a Neuro-Physiotherapist working at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute in Paschim Vihar, New Delhi. Also, I am a part-time PhD. Scholar at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Dwarka, New Delhi

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Dr. Ashraf S. Gorgey currently serves as Chief of SCI Research and Director of the SCI Exercise and Body Composition Lab at the Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Health System (CVVAHS). He also serves as a Research Clinical Specialist at the Spinal Cord Injury Service & Disorders and Director of the SCI Move Program at CVVAHS. He has a dual appointment as a Professor, VCU Center for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering, Department of PM&R, School of Medicine. The applicant has been awarded number of SCI research grants including VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Career Development (CDA), VA Merit (I01), and VA Spire (I21) awards; National Science Foundation grants; and DoD-CDRMP awards to study the effects of exercise training using assistive technologies and neurostimulations techniques for post-SCI impairment.

Dr Ellen Merete Hagen is a Consultant Neurologist at the Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark and an Associate Professor at Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University. She has previously worked as a Consultant Neurologist in Autonomic Medicine at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square. She studied Medicine at the University of Oslo and completed her specialist training in Neurology at Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. Her completed her PhD Thesis: “Traumatic spinal cord injuries – A clinical and epidemiological study” at Bergen University. Her research interests are: Spinal Cord Injuries, Autonomic Nervous System, epidemiology, neurorehabilitation, electronic health record systems and diagnostic coding. She has established an Autonomic Laboratory at the Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark. She is the Treasurer of the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS), member of the ASIA Autonomic Committee and the ASIA Education Committee. She is an Associate Editor of Spinal Cord Series and Cases. She is a member of Scientific Panel of Neurotraumatology and the Scientific Panel of Neurorehabilitation at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) and the Chair of the Autonomic Neurorehabilitation Special Interest Group (ANSIG) in the World Federation of Neurorehabilitation (WFNR).

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Sunpreet Singh Hanspal is an Occupational Therapist at the Department of Spine and Rehabilitation, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, New Delhi, India. He specializes in spinal cord injury rehabilitation with a strong focus on technology-driven interventions. His work integrates gamified sensor-based systems, robotics, and task-oriented neurorehabilitation to enhance upper extremity function and functional independence. He is actively involved in research exploring innovative, evidence-based approaches to improve outcomes in neurological populations. His broader interests include neuroplasticity, human–technology interaction in rehabilitation, and advancing accessible rehabilitation solutions in resource-constrained settings.

Dr. Sayeed Uddin Helal is a highly experienced neurosurgeon and spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation specialist based in Bangladesh. He holds an MBBS, MPH, and MS in Neurosurgery, and is currently serving as Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon and Head of the Medical Services Wing at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP). Dr. Helal specializes in neuro-spine surgery with a strong clinical and academic focus on spinal cord injury management and rehabilitation. His work integrates surgical expertise with comprehensive rehabilitation approaches, aiming to improve functional outcomes and quality of life for individuals with SCI. In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Helal is actively engaged in research in neurology and neurosurgery, particularly in the field of spinal cord injury. His research interests include neurological outcomes in complete spinal cord injury and multidisciplinary rehabilitation strategies. He has contributed to scientific literatures. Beyond clinical and research work, Dr. Helal has a keen interest in medical education, writing, and healthcare innovation, including entrepreneurship in the field of neurorehabilitation.

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Professor Dr Ohnmar Htwe @ Rashidah Ismail is a Consultant Rehabilitation Medicine Physician at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA). She previously served at Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)/Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz for 18 years, where she developed extensive expertise in spinal cord injury, paediatric rehabilitation, amputee care, diabetic foot management, and acquired brain injury rehabilitation. She is a certified Medical Independent Assessor and an active contributor to medical education, research, and clinical innovation. Prof. Rashidah has delivered over 155 invited lectures and published more than 70 scientific papers in areas including regenerative medicine, biomechanics, and clinical rehabilitation. She has contributed as a chapter author to internationally recognised textbooks, including the ISCoS Textbook on Comprehensive Management of Spinal Cord Injuries and Braddom’s Rehabilitation Care. Her current academic and research interests focus on regenerative medicine, neurorehabilitation, and advancing evidence-based rehabilitation practice.

Senior resident in Rehabilitation Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital

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Louise has 30 years of nursing experience with 25 years working in the speciality of Spinal Cord Injury through Royal North Shore Acute Spinal Unit in Sydney, Australia and more recently in private community nursing practice. Louise is a strong advocate for her clients and is committed to improving the quality of life for people living with spinal cord injury. She is passionate about educating her nursing and allied health colleagues to ensure the most up to date practice is provided and she has undertaken PhD studies to ensure that she can continue the advancement of nursing practice in spinal cord injury.

Louise has 30 years of nursing experience with 25 years working in the speciality of Spinal Cord Injury through Royal North Shore Acute Spinal Unit in Sydney, Australia and more recently in private community nursing practice. Louise is a strong advocate for her clients and is committed to improving the quality of life for people living with spinal cord injury. She is passionate about educating her nursing and allied health colleagues to ensure the most up to date practice is provided and she has undertaken PhD studies to ensure that she can continue the advancement of nursing practice in spinal cord injury.

Jae Hyung Kim, MD, PhD, is a professor and board-certified physiatrist specializing in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Chonnam National University College of Medicine. He received his medical degree from Chonnam National University College of Medicine and subsequently completed his residency training in Rehabilitation Medicine at the National Rehabilitation Center in Korea. He obtained his PhD in Rehabilitation Medicine from Kyung Hee University, with a research focus on neuromuscular and neurorehabilitation. Dr. Kim has extensive clinical experience in the management of patients with spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and complex neurological disorders. His particular clinical interests include dysphagia evaluation and management, videofluoroscopic swallowing studies, neurogenic pain, and comprehensive rehabilitation strategies for patients with severe neurological impairments. He has also been actively involved in the application of neuromodulation techniques, including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, for pain and functional recovery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Kim has made significant academic contributions through numerous peer-reviewed publications in international journals indexed in SCI and SCIE. His research spans swallowing disorders, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, musculoskeletal biomechanics, and innovative rehabilitation interventions. He has presented his work at national and international conferences and has participated in collaborative research projects both in Korea and abroad, including academic training as a visiting scholar. Dr. Kim is dedicated to medical education and has served as a faculty member responsible for undergraduate and postgraduate training in rehabilitation medicine. He has also been recognized with multiple institutional and governmental awards for his contributions to clinical excellence, research, and community health promotion. Through his clinical work, research, and teaching, Dr. Kim remains committed to advancing evidence-based rehabilitation medicine and improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

BIOGRAPHY OF KAMRUNNAHER 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.

Radha Korupolu, MD, MS is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UTHealth Houston and Service Chief of Spinal Cord Medicine at TIRR Memorial Hermann. She also serves as Clinical Chief of Respiratory Services. Dr. Korupolu’s clinical and research work focuses on spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation, neuromodulation, respiratory management, and strategies to enhance motor and functional recovery through translational clinical trials.

Dr. Min-yong Lee is a physiatrist and currently serves as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH). He received his M.D. from Seoul National University of Medicine and completed his residency at SNUH. Prior to joining SNUH, Dr. Lee gained extensive clinical experience in spinal cord injury (SCI) management at the National Rehabilitation Center and the National Traffic Injury Rehabilitation Hospital in Korea. His primary clinical and research interests center on spinal cord injury, neuroregeneration, and neuropathic pain management.

Prof. Bum-Suk Lee, MD Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea

Dr. Yan Li holds the position of Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She completed her postdoctoral training at the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery, and Palliative Care at King's College London, United Kingdom. Dr Li has been a visiting researcher at several esteemed institutions, including the University of Sydney, the National University of Singapore, and the University of Turku. Dr Li has authored over 90 peer-reviewed journal articles with a focus on spinal cord injury research or other healthcare topics. Her research in this area focuses on the psychosocial and mental health aspects of individuals with spinal cord injuries, aiming to improve their quality of life and overall well-being. ‌

Dr. Yan Li holds the position of Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where she contributes to the advancement of health education and research. From 2019 to 2020, she completed her postdoctoral training at the renowned Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery, and Palliative Care at King's College London, United Kingdom. Dr. Li has been a visiting researcher at several esteemed institutions, including the University of Sydney, the National University of Singapore, and the University of Turku. These experiences have allowed her to collaborate with leading researchers and scholars from spinal cord injury research and other health backgrounds, enriching her research perspective and expanding her professional network.‌ Dr Li has authored over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles with a focus on spinal cord injury research or other healthcare topics. Her research has been widely recognized and cited by scholars in the field. As a principal investigator, she has successfully secured more than 10 million HKD in research grants. Her research in this area focuses on the psychosocial and mental health aspects of individuals with spinal cord injuries, aiming to improve their quality of life and overall well-being. ‌Dr. Li has implemented cognitive-based, coping-oriented support interventions and incorporated mindfulness practices into her work with the spinal cord injury population. She believes that mental health is of utmost importance for individuals with spinal cord injuries, as it exerts a profound influence on their physical and overall well-being.

Brandon Lieu, MD, FRCPC, CSCN (EMG) Dr. Brandon Lieu attended the University of Alberta for his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences. He continued his training at the University of Alberta for both medical school and residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. His interest in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Medicine grew into a passion throughout his residency training and he went on to complete his SCI Medicine fellowship at Stanford University. Dr. Lieu currently is a lecturer in the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and holds a hospital appointment with the University Health Network (Toronto Rehabilitation Institute—Lyndhurst Centre), where he continues to provide specialized care for individuals with SCI and contribute to research and education in this field. Dr. Lieu’s research interest has focused on the application of nerve and tendon transfers for people with SCI. He has obtained his Canadian certification in electrodiagnostic medicine and plans to apply this skill to push the frontier of nerve transfers and functional restoration in the SCI population.

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Grace is a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. She works as part of the MDT in the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre and orthopaedic wards with patients who have voice and swallow problems. Grace is part of the spinal cord injury (SCI) respiratory team who are involved in the assessment and treatment of sleep apnea after SCI. Her research interests include post spinal surgery voice and swallow disorders, tracheostomy, complex + altered airways and quality of life.

2000 graduated at Shinshu University, started residency program at Neurosurgery of Shinshu University Hospital and worked at affiliated hospitals 2010- Department of Neurosurgery, Kurume University 2016- Director of Neurosurgery, Yame General Hospital certified and lecturer doctor of the Neurospinal society of Japan certified neuromonitoring doctor of the Japanese Society Spine Surgery and Related Research certified and lecturer doctor of the Stroke society of Japan certified doctor of the Japanese Society on Surgery for Cerebral Stroke

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Sangeetha Nadarajan is a Master of Rehabilitation Medicine trainee at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her clinical and research interests include spinal cord injury rehabilitation, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and rehabilitation outcomes. Dr. Siti Suhaida Sudin is a Consultant in the Spinal Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hospital Rehabilitasi Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her clinical practice focuses on the comprehensive rehabilitation and long-term management of individuals with spinal cord injury.

Dr. Prashnna Napit is currently a Fellow in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS) in collaboration with the Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre (SIRC), Nepal. He completed his MD in Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology from the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), Nepal, and has extensive experience in dermatology, leprosy, and disability management, including serving as Section Chief of the Leprosy Control and Disability Management Section under Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population. His current academic and research interests focus on spinal cord injury, neurological rehabilitation, disability management, and improving rehabilitation services in low-resource settings.

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I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Japan. I received my M.D. in 2009 and subsequently completed my residency and spine fellowship training at Keio University. I earned my Ph.D. in 2018, during which I investigated stem cell–based regenerative approaches for spinal cord injury, including a study demonstrating that pretreatment with a γ-secretase inhibitor prevents tumor-like overgrowth in human iPSC-derived neural transplants. After serving as a spine surgeon at Murayama Medical Center in Tokyo from 2019 to 2023, I returned to Keio University as a faculty member. I am a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and a board-certified spine surgeon accredited by the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research. My clinical and research interests include degenerative cervical myelopathy, spinal cord tumors, minimally invasive spine surgery, regenerative medicine, and large-scale clinical outcomes research. I am an active member of several professional societies, including the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research, the Japan Medical Society of Spinal Cord Lesion, and the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine.

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. He is leading a research line on spinal cord injury which focuses on improving mobility with innovative solutions to improve both daily functioning as well as health

**Amena Rahman, OTD**, is a Lecturer in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the Bangladesh Health Professions Institute (BHPI), Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), Savar, Bangladesh. She is actively involved in teaching, clinical supervision, and research in neurological rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, community-based rehabilitation, and occupation-based practice. Her research interests include occupational participation, therapeutic horticulture, psychosocial rehabilitation, assistive technology, and evidence-based occupational therapy. She is committed to advancing inclusive rehabilitation through innovative, client-centred interventions and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her current work focuses on exploring meaningful occupations and environmental interventions that enhance participation, wellbeing, and quality of life for people living with disabilities.

Sophie Lykkegaard Ravn is a psychologist and research leader at the Special Hospital for Polio and Accident Victims in Denmark and Associate Professor at Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark. Her research area is trauma rehabilitation with particular interest in psychological and psychosocial aspects of rehabilitation, persistent pain, functioning, and adjustment to life-changing health conditions.

Sophie Lykkegaard Ravn is a psychologist and research leader at the Special Hospital for Polio and Accident Victims in Denmark and Associate Professor at Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark. Her research area is trauma rehabilitation with particular interest in psychological and psychosocial aspects of rehabilitation, persistent pain, functioning, and adjustment to life-changing health conditions.

A third-year resident physician in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program at Universidad del Valle, she has comprehensive training in the interdisciplinary approach to patients with disabilities. She will participate as an author at the 65th Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Spinal Cord Society, contributing to the generation of knowledge in the field of rehabilitation and comprehensive care for patients with spinal cord injuries.

Dr. Sadowsky, Professor of Clinical Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, is the Clinical Director and Co-Founder of the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, a CARF accredited program caring for both children and adults with spinal cord related paralysis and built on the philosophy that functional restoration is activity dependent and can be best achieved through structured medico-rehabilitative interventions. She is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Spinal Cord Injury Medicine. Dr. Sadowsky’s research interests center on prevention of complications in children and adults with paralysis related to traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction and the efficacy of activity based restorative therapies (ABRT) in helping individuals with long-term paralysis recover sensation, movement and independence. She is the Chair of Steel Assembly - an organization of health care, rehabilitation and social service professionals with expertise in pediatric spinal cord related paralysis, a Fellow of the ASIA and AAPMR and a Diplomate of the AAP. She thoroughly enjoys mentoring and is passionate for the care of individuals with disabilities.

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Jessica Simmons, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CWON, DNC Facility/Current Responsibilities Jessica Simmons works for Hollister, Incorporated as a Senior Clinical Scientist with the Global Clinical Affairs team. Experience She has been a registered nurse since 2006 and a nurse practitioner since 2015. She earned a Doctoral degree in Nursing Practice in 2021 at Purdue University Global, West Lafayette, IN. As a clinician, her background includes Internal Medicine, as well as Wound/Ostomy/Continence, and Hyperbaric Medicine. In addition to her clinical experience, she is an Adjunct Faculty for the Graduate School of Nursing’s Family Nurse Practitioner program at Purdue University Global. She is a past President of the Wound Ostomy Continence Certification Board. Her board certifications include: Certified wound ostomy nurse (CWON) Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board Dermatology Nurse Certified (DNC) Dermatology Nursing Certification Board Family Nurse Practitioner Certified (FNP-C) American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board She joined Hollister, Incorporated in 2021 as a Senior Clinical Scientist.

Hanne Bjørg Slettahjell is a Registered Clinical Dietitian, MSc, at Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital in Norway, and a PhD candidate at the University of Oslo, Norway, with a research focus on metabolic health and body composition following traumatic spinal cord injury. Her work centers on early, individualized nutrition interventions during subacute rehabilitation and their long-term impact on cardiometabolic risk.

Chatwalai Sonthikul is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Bath, United Kingdom, conducting research within the Department of Health’s Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism (CNEM). She concurrently holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Prince of Songkla University, Thailand. Her current doctoral research focuses heavily on the prevention of cardiometabolic syndrome in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), a population at significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease due to muscle atrophy and metabolic dysfunction. To combat this, Chatwalai is investigating the therapeutic potential of targeted exercise modalities—specifically arm crank ergometry and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)—to activate paralyzed muscles, enhance glucose uptake, and promote vascular repair. Before advancing to her PhD, Chatwalai built a robust foundation in neurological physical therapy as a clinician, lecturer, and researcher. She earned her B.Sc. in Physical Therapy from Prince of Songkla University and an M.Sc. from Mahidol University. Her extensive clinical background continually informs her academic mission to discover practical, exercise-based interventions that directly improve the cardiometabolic health of patients with neurological deficits.

Dr Shangita Subramaniam is a Rehabilitation Medicine trainee at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. Her clinical and research interests include spinal cord injury, neurorehabilitation and pain medicine. She is actively involved in clinical research exploring practical and innovative approaches to rehabilitation, with ongoing work in neuroprotection and patient safety.

Nafisa Sultana is an intern physiotherapist with a B.Sc.in Physiotherapy (Bangladesh). She is currently undergoing his clinical internship at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), Bangladesh. She has keen research interest on the area of spinal cord injury, disability, rehabilitation and social inclusion. During his internship, She is gaining hands-on experience in assessing and managing patients with SCI in both hospital and rehabilitation settings, which is helping him understand the challenges faced by individuals with SCI in Bangladesh. She is also developing skills in mobility training, functional independence, and long-term rehabilitation planning. She aims to further develop his clinical and research skills and contribute to the field of rehabilitation in the future.

Dr. Raktim Swarnakar, MBBS, MD (AIIMS, New Delhi), is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at AIIMS Deoghar, India. His clinical and research interests include spinal cord injury rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation, pressure injury management, and rehabilitation research. He has received several national and international recognitions, including the International Scholarship by the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation (KARM) 2025 for the International Fellowship Program in Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, South Korea; ISPRM President's Cabinet Grant 2026; Best Young Scientist Award 2025; Early-Career Researcher Award 2026; IPARM Rehabilitation Research Award 2024; IFNR Young Investigator Award 2024; Bindeshwari Sudershan IAPMR Gold Medal Award; IPARM Gold Medal; and the ICMR MD Thesis Grant Support Fellowship. He has also received multiple awards for research presentations and competitive posters, as well as travel grants from the Movement Disorder Society of India and the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders. He has more than 50 peer-reviewed publications in national and international journals and three book chapters, with research spanning spinal cord injury, telerehabilitation, pressure injury management, Parkinson’s disease, and emerging technologies in rehabilitation.

Dr. Raktim Swarnakar, MBBS, MD (AIIMS, New Delhi), is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at AIIMS Deoghar, India. His clinical and research interests include spinal cord injury rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation, pressure injury management, and rehabilitation research. He has received several national and international recognitions, including the International Scholarship by the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation (KARM) 2025 for the International Fellowship Program in Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, South Korea; ISPRM President's Cabinet Grant 2026; Best Young Scientist Award 2025; Early-Career Researcher Award 2026; IPARM Rehabilitation Research Award 2024; IFNR Young Investigator Award 2024; Bindeshwari Sudershan IAPMR Gold Medal Award; IPARM Gold Medal; and the ICMR MD Thesis Grant Support Fellowship. He has also received multiple awards for research presentations and competitive posters, as well as travel grants from the Movement Disorder Society of India and the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders. He has more than 50 peer-reviewed publications in national and international journals and three book chapters, with research spanning spinal cord injury, telerehabilitation, pressure injury management, Parkinson’s disease, and emerging technologies in rehabilitation.

Alicia Swart is a lecturer in the Department of Occupational Therapy within the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences at the University of the Western Cape. She has extensive experience and a strong clinical foundation within the field of adult neurology and spinal cord injury rehabilitation with the focus of improving client’s participation in their chosen occupations. She completed her Master’s degree via course work focused on work practice. Her research focus includes remote work for persons with spinal cord injuries discussed through an occupational justice lens. She is further interested in re-envisioning patient education programmes in clinical setting, moving towards co-creation and experiential learning to improve health education and occupational engagement among clients with SCI. Her work has been presented nationally and internationally. Alicia's current research focus: practice based evidence and the documentation thereof to strengthen rehabilitation effectiveness, within interdisciplinary rehabilitation. In her clinical practice, working in diverse settings across South Africa, she has coordinated several impactful clinical and operational projects focused on improving continuity of care for service users and improve support structures for clinicians. She is actively involved in professional development and standing committees within the field. Alicia is passionate about the nuanced approach and unique contribution that occupational therapy offers in physical rehabilitation and its broader impact on individuals and communities.

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Akira Toga, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon and PhD candidate at Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. His research focuses on neuroplasticity and functional brain connectivity after spinal cord injury using awake resting-state fMRI in common marmosets. He is particularly interested in developing MRI-based biomarkers to evaluate recovery and rehabilitation-related brain reorganization after spinal cord injury.

Taslim Uddin, FRCP, is currently working in the Dept of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Bangladesh Medical University. Academic and research interests include LMIC rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, climate change, and disability, and brain injury.

Beatrice Ugiliweneza, PhD, MSPH, MSCS is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, and a Director of Biostatistics for the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center at the University of Louisville. She holds a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and Physics from Abdou Moumouni Dioffo University of Niamey in Niger (2006), a Master’s in Biostatistics (2011), a Doctorate in Applied and Industrial Mathematics (2011), and a Master’s in Computer Science and Engineering (2024). Her research focuses on advancing clinical and real-world evidence through Clinical Trial Analytics Research (CTAR), Health Outcomes and Economics Research (HOER), Health Services Research (HSR), Health Analytics Research (HAR), Real-World Evidence Research (RWER), and Explainable Machine Learning (EML) with emphasis on neurotrauma, treatment effectiveness, and outcome optimization. She has extensive experience in large databases including claims data, registries, surveys, electronic health records, and administrative databases. She has designed and executed multiple projects involving quantitative and qualitative analysis, including descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. She has collaborated in multidisciplinary teams, working closely with other scientists, engineers, researchers, medical doctors, allied health professionals, and postdoctoral scholars, resulting in more than 150 publications and millions in extramural funding. Her work has been disseminated at various regional, national, and international meetings.

Antonio, Community and Consumer Engagement Manager at the Spinal Research Institute, specialises in trauma's social impacts and promotes consumer involvement in spinal cord injury research. He is recognised internationally, has published in leading journals, and serves on major committees, including the Australia and New Zealand Spinal Cord Society Executive Committee. Antonio is active policy development and uses digital media to connect academia and the community. Dr Jane Duff has combined clinical and academic work at the NSIC Stoke Mandeville Hospital since 1997. Jane was an expert on the WHO 2030 Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation, led on the 2023 NHS England Psychological and Mental Health standards and is Chair of the ISCoS Psychosocial Special Interest Group. Jane is UK PI for 2 international grants. Jane has over 35 publications, with a H-index of 11 and an i10-index of 13. Claire Backhouse is an award-winning social media, marketing and communications specialist who has worked at the Spinal Research Institute since 2022. Claire has extensive experience in the not-for-profit and higher education sectors, putting her skills to use in PhD student recruitment and marketing of the Three Minute Thesis competition at its founding institution, the University of Queensland. Claire is also a video content creator whose YouTube channel has had over 3 million views. Jennifer Coker has worked in traumatic SCI research since 1997. She obtained a Master of Public Health 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

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wan Najwa Wan Mohd Zohdi is a senior lecturer and Rehabilitation Physician who serves as Head of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia. She is also the Head of the Master of Rehabilitation Medicine Programme, where she leads the curriculum development and academic advancement in rehabilitation medicine. She completed a Clinical Fellowship in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation at the Lyndhurst Centre, University of Toronto, Canada, further strengthening her expertise in the comprehensive management of individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI). She also serves as a Board Member and Head of Programme for the Conjoint Board of Rehabilitation Medicine Postgraduate Programme in Malaysia. In addition to her academic and clinical roles, she is an Executive Committee Member of the Malaysian Association of Rehabilitation Physicians (MARP). Her clinical practice, research, and academic interests centre on spinal cord injury rehabilitation, secondary complications of SCI including bone health and fragility fracture prevention and improving quality of life for people living with disabilities. She is involved in the International Spinal Cord Injury (InSCI) initiative and serves on the International Spinal Cord Injury Survey Committee, contributing to evidence-based SCI care. She is also a member of the Fragility Fracture Network (FFN) Global Education Unit Advisory Team, supporting international initiatives in fracture prevention among people with disabilities. Dr. Najwa leads and collaborates on several international SCI initiatives focusing on community participation, remunerative employment, bone health, integrated rehabilitation services across Asia. Her research seeks to bridge the gap between evidence and practice through implementation research, multidisciplinary collaboration, and innovative rehabilitation for individuals living with SCI. Her vision is to aspire equitable, evidence-based spinal cord injury rehabilitation ensuring that individuals living with SCI have greater opportunities for independence, participation, and meaningful community inclusion.

Conor White is a physiotherapist and PhD student in University College Dublin School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science. His research primarily focuses on the effects of exoskeleton walking on neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. Secondary aims of his research include the health economic implications of exoskeleton walking on healthcare resource utilisation, work presenteeism/absenteeism and medication use.

Dr. Wolfe leads the Research2Practice team, reflecting his passion for redefining how researchers work with practitioners and patients to generate knowledge while improving clinical outcomes. Primary research interests include knowledge mobilization and best-practice implementation in physical activity, therapy, and self-management. Outside work, Dalton enjoys music, nature, and curling.

Dalton Wolfe is a Scientist at Lawson Research Institute, an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health Science and leads the Research 2 Practice (R2P) team, which is a unique research program within Parkwood Institute that focuses on strategies for generating evidence and implementing best practice within rehabilitation. Professor Wolfe’s primary research interest is in the area of knowledge mobilization and best practice implementation with a focus on physical activity and activity-based therapies in spinal cord injury and brain injury rehabilitation. R2P initiatives use implementation science and participatory research methods to put in place practice-based research infrastructure that enables iterative knowledge generation as well as implementation. Trainees work alongside clinicians, administrators and persons with lived experience to tackle clinically relevant questions.

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Dr. Melisa Zengin graduated from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine and is currently a resident doctor at Istanbul Medeniyet University’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In addition to her medical training, she is studying Business Administration at Marmara University, blending her medical expertise with knowledge in business and marketing.This combination enables her to explore community-based and socially oriented approaches to healthcare, particularly in improving inclusion and awareness for individuals with disabilities

Previous Surgeon in China, 1994-2004 Physician Associate, 2018 - Now Working in Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries, RJAH, UK since 2020

Previous surgeon in China. 1994-2004 Physician Associate, 2018 - now Working in Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries, since 2020.

Dr. Seri Sarah Syaiha is a dedicated Rehabilitation Medicine Officer who graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in 2019. Since completing her medical training, she has gained extensive experience working at several major rehabilitation centres in Malaysia, including Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar Seremban, Hospital Pengajar Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and currently Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah, UiTM. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to work alongside experienced rehabilitation specialists and consultants, allowing her to develop a comprehensive understanding of evidence-based rehabilitation practice across a wide spectrum of neurological, musculoskeletal, and multidisciplinary conditions. Her exposure to diverse clinical settings has strengthened her clinical decision-making, broadened her appreciation of multidisciplinary patient management, and cultivated a strong commitment to lifelong learning. Working with various mentors has also enriched her teaching experience and reinforced the importance of collaborative care in achieving optimal functional outcomes for patients.