2026 Apple Award
Congratulations Paulina Scheuren, PhD, recipient of the 2026 Apple award for her paper “Enhanced Clinical Trial Stratification in Spinal Cord Injury: the Value of Electrophysiology.”
Dr. Scheuren is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD) and UBC in Vancouver, Canada. She earned her master’s and PhD degrees in Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich and the SCI Center at Balgrist University Hospital.
Her research is focused on developing mechanistically grounded biomarkers to elucidate disease mechanisms, predict recovery, and optimize the design of clinical trials in spinal cord injury. Her work is supported through multiple prestigious fellowships including from the International Foundation for Research in Paraplegia, Swiss National Science Foundation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Michael Smith Health Research BC as well as grants from the Wings for Life Foundation.
The Apple Award for excellence in publishing in spinal cord injury rehabilitation literature is presented annually in recognition of the best-published paper by a clinician or researcher in the preceding calendar year. Nominations will be accepted from the field for articles that address clinical or basic science research in spinal cord medicine.
The Apple Award is given in honor of David F. Apple, Jr., MD, who passed away in March, 2026. David F. Apple, Jr., MD was a luminary of our field, and founding member and past President of ASIA (1983-85). Dr. Apple was a founder of the (then) Rehabilitation Services Administration Model Systems Program and the longstanding heartbeat of the distinguished Shepherd Center.
Dedicated physician, committed researcher, humanitarian, mentor, and visionary, Dr. Apple’s legacy remains deeply rooted in the activities of those who carry on his service and is conveyed through the many people with spinal cord injuries who benefited – and continue to benefit – from his life’s work.
Rules and Eligibility:
Apple award submissions are announced each January/February. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Nominees must be members of ASIA. The following individuals are not eligible for the Apple Award: ASIA President, President-Elect, Past Presidents, Research and Awards Committee Chair, and Vice Chair.
Past Apple Award Recipients
