Spinal Cord Injury Research

Life at Kessler Foundation - Episode 8

Read the transcript at https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/Life%20at%20Kessler%20Foundation-Returning%20for%20a%20New%20Job_Title_and%20Responsibilities-Stephanie%20Jamenez-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

Stephanie Jimenez, a senior research coordinator in the Center for Outcomes and Assessment Research at Kessler Foundation, began her career here as a research assistant. Since then, she went back to school for her master’s degree in social work at New York University and returned to the Foundation a few years later. Now, she implements her superior management sense and engages research study recruits, focus groups, and clinicians for the scientists in her Center. She is also a mentor for research assistants moving up through the system like she did. Hear more of her story in an interview with Creative Producer Joan Banks-Smith.

Learn more about:
Stephanie Jimenez

Center for Outcomes and Assessment Research

Interested in learning more about the research studies conducted at Kessler Foundation?

Interested in a career at Kessler Foundation? 
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Tuned into our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure to subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast was recorded remotely on Friday, September 2, 2022, and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.

Welcome to the 2022 Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury System Lecture Series. This podcast features Ida Fox, MD, FACS, professor of surgery at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MS. In this series, Dr. Fox discussed advancements in upper extremity reconstruction in cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) that have provided the opportunity to improve function and quality of life in people living with SCI. She described current approaches to restoring hand and upper extremity function in people with cervical SCI. Dr. Fox then reviewed the physiology of nerve transfer procedures (early <1 year post-SCI vs. late, even decades post-SCI) and strategies for pre-operative evaluation, testing, and discussion of choice. She also covered preoperative selection and surgical outcomes using validated measures and video content. In addition, challenges, including practice environment, priorities of rehabilitation (spontaneous recovery versus surgical intervention), availability of therapy, and outcomes-based preferences were discussed.

Learn more about:  Ida Fox, MD, FACS and The Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury System

Join a study

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The lecture was hosted by the Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury System, which is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90SIM0012). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

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Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure to subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This presentation was recorded, produced, and edited by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation on Friday, November 4, 2022, at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Conference Center, West Orange, New Jersey.

Fast Takes - Ep39

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Historically, it was believed that the brain stopped growing after childhood. We now know the contrary to be true. Neuroscience has confirmed that our brains change throughout our lives, from birth to death. The brain’s ability to rewire its circuitry and make adaptive changes, known as neuroplasticity, is why recovery after injury is possible.

But much about neuroplasticity is not well understood. Our researchers are using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and real-time neurofeedback capabilities to conduct several novel pilot studies. Their goal is to correlate changes in the brain to changes in behavior and function.

Funding sources: David F. Bolger Trust and Craig H. Neilsen Foundation

Learn more about: Dr. Olga Boukrina,  Dr. Glenn Wylie, Dr. Jeanne Zanca

Center for Outcomes and Assessment Research

Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research

Center for Stroke Research

Rocco Ortenzio Neuroimaging Center at Kessler Foundation

Interested in joining a study mentioned in this podcast?
Strategies for Stroke Rehabilitation: fMRI Neurofeedback and Motor Imagery, PI: Olga Boukrina, PhD, 

Assessment of Cognitive Fatigue in the Aging, PI: Glenn Wylie, DPhil

Mental Fatigue among Individuals with Stroke, PI: Glenn Wylie, DPhil

Brain Activity in People with Chronic Neuropathic Pain and SCI, PI: Jeanne Zanca, PhD,

Interested in joining a study?
 
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Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure to subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates. 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

This podcast was recorded remotely on May 16, 2022, and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.

Fast Takes - Episode 27

View the transcript.

Welcome to another special episode of Fast Takes!   

Dr. Zanca starts off with the project beginnings and Ms. Levinson responds. 

Learn more about Dr. Zanca at https://kesslerfoundation.org/aboutus/Jeanne-Zanca, the peered review article at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10790268.2021.1937454?src=&journalCode=yscm20&, and Abilities Expo (equipment for people with disabilities) - https://www.abilities.com 

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Tuned into our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation.   

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.   

This podcast was recorded on Monday, August 9, 2021, remotely and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.

Jessica Ganga, Communications & Digital Media Coordinator at the Foundation, moderates a panel of research coordinators for mobility, spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the Foundation's recruitment manager. They share how volunteers help Kessler Foundation further its clinical research on advancing treatments, which impact the lives of individuals with disabilities worldwide. Volunteers are the heart of our research!   

Learn more about the panel:   
Rachel Byrne, Senior Research Coordinator (SCI)
Kate Goworek, Research Coordinator (Mobility)
Jenny Masmela, Senior Research Coordinator (Stroke)
Sam Schmidt, Research Recruitment Manager
Angela Smith, Senior Research Coordinator (TBI)

Frequently Asked Questions about the Foundation's Research -

Volunteers are the heart of our research! Interested in joining a study? For more information on in-person and tele-studies, check out our studies webpage

Definitions/Keywords
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What is spatial neglect?
Patients who have had a stroke or traumatic brain injury may have a neurological syndrome called spatial neglect, which affects their ability to pay attention to their surroundings and body parts on the less affected side (the left side for patients with right brain injury). Spatial neglect is disabling. Patients may 'forget' to shave, groom, or dress the left side of their bodies. They also have major problems with driving, reading, and balance. Read more about our spatial neglect caregiver webpage and professional pages 

What is KF-NAP®? 
Kessler Foundation Neglect Assessment Process (KF-NAP®) is an assessment tool that may help clinicians detect the presence of spatial neglect and measure the severity of the syndrome. 

What is KF-PAT®? Kessler Foundation Prism Adaptation Treatment (KF-PAT®) is implemented in occupational therapy for post-stroke spatial neglect. Including prism adaptation treatment in standard of care for patients with post-stroke spatial neglect improved functional and cognitive outcomes. 

What is MRI contrast 
There are two major types of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans: with contrast and non-contrast. The main distinction is that for contrast MRIs, a dye (gadolinium-based) is given to the patient intravenously before the scan. Contrast is often order by a physician who wants to highlight a particular part of the body. 

What is HIPPA? 
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge. For more information, go to https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html 

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Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure to subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates.

Fast Takes – Episode 14 

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Welcome to a Fast Takes #WomenInScience podcast honoring the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Celebrated on February 11th, this United Nations initiative recognizes the critical role of women and girls in science and technology communities and calls for strengthening of their participation in STEM fields. Did you know that today, just 30% of researchers are women, and only 35% of all students enrolled in STEM-related fields of study are women? At Kessler Foundation, 70% of our staff are women making major contributions to the advances we achieve in rehabilitation research that changes the lives of people with disabilities. 

Episode 14 features Dr. Jeanne Zanca, senior research scientist in our Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research and Center for Outcomes and Assessment Research. Producer Joan Banks-Smith interviews Dr. Zanca about balancing family life, her scientific background, and advice to women working in the same field. 

Learn more about:
Dr. Zanca, the Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research, and the Center for Outcomes and Assessment Research. 

Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation.  

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.  

This podcast was recorded on Thursday, January 28, 2021 remotely and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.

Fast Takes – Episode 10

View the transcript

In this episode, Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, Director for the Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research and the Center for Outcomes and Assessment Research at Kessler Foundation talks about his latest peer-reviewed article “Patterns of cognitive deficits in persons with spinal cord injury as compared with both age-matched and older individuals without spinal cord injury” published in the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine online December 3, 2018.

Funding Source: New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research and Rehabilitation Research and Development Service

Read more about Dr. Dyson-Hudson and his research.

For more information about this study, check out the press release.

Co-authors: Nancy D. Chiaravalloti, PhD, Erica Weber, PhD, Glenn Wylie, DPhil, and Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, from Kessler Foundation, and Jill M. Wecht, EdD, from the James J. Peters VA Medical Center 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

This podcast was recorded on Monday, September 24, 2020 remotely and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.

Fast Takes – Episode 9

View the transcript

Funding sources for this study is the Derfner Foundation, Kessler Foundation, and the National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (90SI5011)

For more information about this study, check out the press release on our website or the abstract.

Read more about Dr. Dyson-Hudson and his research.

Co-authors: Nathan S Hogaboom, Reina Nakamura, Alon Terry , Gerard A Malanga  

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

This podcast was recorded on Monday, September 24, 2020 remotely and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.

My Life As A Research Assistant: Jonathan Augustine on Outcomes in Spinal Cord Injury Research

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*** Originally recorded on June 9, 2016, updated September 8, 2020. ***

*** Jonathan was promoted from research assistant to senior research technician in 2019.***

Welcome to our podcast series, “My Life As A Research Assistant”. This series is brought to you by Kessler Foundation, where we are changing the lives of people with disabilities.

Research assistants are on the front lines of our research studies—collecting data, conducting interviews, testing subjects—and are the face of Kessler Foundation to our research study participants. In 2020, Kessler Foundation was ranked among one of the Best Nonprofits to Work For and Best Places to Work in New Jersey (kesslerfoundation.org/press-release/…ork-new-jersey)!

Throughout this series, we’ll meet up with research assistants from our centers for mobility, spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neuroscience and neuropsychology who have been with the Foundation for over a year, and some who are now senior research assistants, nurses, medical students, graduate students, and post docs, and those who applied their experience to other professions.

In this episode, I met up with Jonathan Augustine who worked as a research assistant in our Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research where he performed research to improve the mobility of individuals with a spinal cord injury. Currently, Jonathan is a senior research technician in our Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation. Listen in as Jonathan talks to Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation about his experience at the Foundation.

Read more about Jonathan Augustine and Joan Banks-Smith


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Interested in working at Kessler Foundation? Check out our career opportunities
 
Interested in joining a study?
Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast was recorded on, June 9, 2016 at 300 Executive Drive, West Orange, NJ and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.

My Life As A Research Assistant: Tiara Brown on Helping Inform the Public on Research Studies

Read the transcript.

*** Originally recorded on March 29, 2016, updated August 10, 2020.***

*** Currently, Tiara is a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at Fairleigh Dickinson University.***

Welcome to our podcast series, “My Life As A Research Assistant”. This series is brought to you by Kessler Foundation, where we are changing the lives of people with disabilities.

Research assistants are on the front lines of our research studies—collecting data, conducting interviews, testing subjects—and are the face of Kessler Foundation to our research study participants. In 2020, Kessler Foundation was ranked among one of the Best Nonprofits to Work For and Best Places to Work in New Jersey (kesslerfoundation.org/press-release/…ork-new-jersey)!

Throughout this series, we’ll meet up with research assistants from our centers for mobility, spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neuroscience and neuropsychology who have been with the Foundation for over a year, and some who are now senior research assistants, nurses, medical students, graduate students, and post docs, and those who applied their experience to other professions.

In this episode, I met up with Tiara Brown who worked as a research assistant in our Center for Spinal Cord injury where she performed research to improve the mobility of individuals with a spinal cord injury. Listen in as Tiara talks to Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation about her experience at the Foundation.

Read more about Ms. Brown and Joan Banks-Smith

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Interested in working at Kessler Foundation?  Check out our career opportunities

Interested in joining a study?

Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast was recorded on, March 29, 2016 at 300 Executive Drive, West Orange, NJ and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.