Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

The Foundation's quality of life grants program began in 1999 and expanded in 2001 with the establishment of the paralysis resource center funded by a federal grant from the centers for disease control and now the administration for community living. Since then, appropriations have continued annually, the most recent, effective july 1, 2023 for $10,000,000.the resource center provides interactive information services to the paralysis community and their caregivers. They also award quality of life grants twice a year to organizations whose projects and initiatives foster inclusion, involvement and community engagement, while promoting health and wellness for those affected by paralysis.

Public education and advocacy is a cornerstone of the Foundation. It maintains a constant presence in Washington, dc. Speaking out and educating the public and legislators on behalf of the paralysis community. Community outreach through its website enables the Foundation to educate the public on research initiatives currently underway.

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation allocates its research dollars among two initatives covering the full bench-to-bedside continuum.1. The mission of the Christopher Reeve Foundation's north american clinical trials network (nactn) is to advance the quality of care and life for people with spinal cord injury (sci) through clinical trials of new therapies that provide strong evidence of safety and effectiveness. Nactn also has the objective of creating and evaluating best care practices for acute sci. Its research has been supported historically by multi-million department of defense awards.2. Epistim - the Reeve Foundation provides funding to various researchers who aim to study the effects of epidural spinal cord stimulation on people with chronic spinal cord injury including voluntary movement, cardiovascular, pulmonary and bowel and bladder control thereby improving their overall quality of life.the big idea is a study aimed at testing the effectiveness of epidural stimulation to promote significant levels of motor and autonomic control as well as the afore-mentioned secondary functions. The Foundation is currently working with its partners to facilitate the study conclusion in a way that is consistent with out commitment to the patients in the study.