SCI Podcasts

January, 2025
Join us for conversations with Dr. James D. Guest, MD, PhD, of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, who talks about the paper titled “Non-invasive spinal cord electrical stimulation for arm and hand function in chronic tetraplegia: a safety and efficacy trial” published in the journal Nature Medicine. This paper is the culmination of commercialization efforts to bring to market a noninvasive (“transcutaneous “) electrical spinal cord simulator for the purpose of recover of upper extremity motor strength.
EP41 Community – Launching Non-Invasive Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation with Dr. Jim Guest
EP40 Scholarly – Pivotal Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation with Dr. Jim Guest

February, 2025
Jump into episodes 42 and 43 for conversations with Bharadwaj "Bharad" Nandakumar, PhD, of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, for a conversation about the paper titled "Exercise therapy guides cortical reorganization after midthoracic spinal contusion to enhance control of lower thoracic muscles, supporting functional recovery" published in the journal Experimental Neurology. In this paper Dr. Nandakumar and his team leverage the proven power of somatotopic mapping to examine the less explored area of brain-trunk circuits and the effect that exercise has on recovery of neurological control of the trunk after spinal cord injury.
EP43 Community - Mapping Trunk Control and Rehabilitation with Dr. Bharad Nandakumar
EP42 Scholarly - Mapping Trunk Control and Rehabilitation with Dr. Bharad Nandakumar

April, 2025
Join us in this episode for a conversation with Matthew Rodreick, Executive Director of Unite 2 Fight Paralysis (U2FP). Matt offers a concise perspective on U2FP, including reflection on interaction between U2FP and ASIA. The thrust of the conversation then moves to the timely topic of state-level funding, with Matt running through success stories from U2FP's Cure Advocacy Network (CAN) and sharing his insider perspective on setting up state funding for spinal cord injury (SCI) research. We hope you enjoy this episode with Matt on the the past, present, and future of U2FP with a unique eye for a novel funding source.
EP44 Community - Unite 2 Fight Paralysis (U2FP) and their Cure Advocacy Network (CAN)

May, 2025
Join us in these episodes  for conversations with Daniela Terson de Paleville, PhD, professor of Physiology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, and Marcelo Gatti, PT, director of neurorehabilitation in the area of spinal cord injury at Fleni Institute Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina. We'll discuss the paper titled "Gait recovery in patients with late assessment of incomplete spinal cord injury: A retrospective study in Argentina" published in The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine. In this paper Terson de Paleville and Gatti discuss the current state of neurorehabilitation targeting recovery of gait after incomplete spinal cord injury at the Fleni Institute in particular and Argentina more broadly.
EP46 Community - Argentinian Gait Rehabilitation with Dr. Terson de Paleville and Mr. Marcelo Gatti
EP45 Scholarly - Argentinian Gait Rehabilitation with Dr. Terson de Paleville and Mr. Marcelo Gatti

May, 2025
Join us in this episode for a conversation with Jen French and Ian Burkhart, leaders of neurotech development movements and users of implanted neurological devices. Our guests share briefly about their experience with implanted devices, and then the conversation zooms in on exciting recently developments in implantable brain-computer interface (iBCI) and electrical simulation options such as epidural spinal cord stimulation (eSCS). Having been through the process, Jen and Ian deliberate on the importance and steps in engaging people with the lived-experience of paralysis in the development of meaningful clinical outcome assessments for clinical trials. Safety and aversion to electing for implantation are also discussed. We hope you enjoy this episode with Jen French and Ian Burkhart on these exciting neurological technologies and the role of lived-experience in neurotech now and in the future.
EP47 Combined -  Lived-Experience Neurotech Development with Jen French and Ian Burkhart

August, 2025
Join us for conversations with Norbert Weidner, MD, Professor and Chair of the Spinal Cord Injury Center at Heidelberg University Hospital. In Episodes 48 & 49, we discuss results of the Neuroimmunophilin Nogo-A Antibody in Spinal Cord Injury (NISCI) trial, published in a paper titled "Safety and efficacy of intrathecal antibodies to Nogo-A in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 2b trial" in the journal Lancet Neurology. In this paper Weidner and their NISCI team discuss the top-line findings from a large multi-center clinical trial where antibodies against Nogo-A were administered to the spinal space early after acquired SCI. We invite you to listen in as Dr. Weidner gives an insider perspective on the NISCI trial.
EP49 Community - Early Delivery of a Drug Against Nogo-A with Dr. Norbert Weidner
EP48 Scholarly - The Neuroimmunophilin Nogo-A Antibody in Spinal Cord Injury (NISCI) trial with Dr. Norbert Weidner

October, 2025
Join us for conversations with Stephen Burns, MD, physiatrist, Professor of PM&R at University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, and Director of SCI Service at VA Puget Sound. In episodes 50 and 51, we discuss the process of minting a shortened, or expedited, version of the International Standards for the Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) exam. The paper explaining the process is titled "Development and validation of an algorithm for item reduction of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury examination to determine level and severity of SCI" which was recently accepted for publication in Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation."
EP51 Community - Continuing to Shorten the ISNCSCI (or "ASIA") Exam with Dr. Stephen Burns
EP50 Scholarly -  Version 2 of the "Expedited" ISNCSCI with (E-ISNCSCI) Dr. Stephen Burns

December, 2025
This episode was planned and hosted in conjunction with INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, with their producer-host Sharon Parmet.  The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) coalesces data from the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers (SCIMS), a network of combined research and care teams that specialize in spinal cord injury (SCI). The statistical center generates national SCI demography, published in their annual full report and "facts and figures" summary. In this summary, a variety of experts will tell us about their use of the NSCISC and their experience with SCIMS, including a history of these important national services and the importance of continuing them into the future.
EP52 Administrative EP052 - The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center

January, 2024
Clinical Autonomics and Sleep with Dr. Gino Panza
Join us for a conversation about the interaction of autonomic dysfunction, the brain, and sleep. Dr. Panza talks us through a recent review paper that shines a clinical lens on the interaction of three topics that are complicated by themselves and that complexify after spinal cord injury (SCI).
EP26 - Community Episode: Clinical Autonomics and Sleep with Dr. Gino Panza
EP25 - Scholarly Episode: Clinical Autonomics and Sleep with Dr. Gino Panza

February, 2024
Bladder Buzz Podcast Crossover Episode
SpineX's Neuromodulation for Incontinence with Dr. Parag Gad
Conversations with Dr. Parag Gad, co-founder and CEO of SpineX, who talks about the Spinal Cord Neuromodulator by SpineX and Scone to Treat Neurogenic Bladder, or the SCONE “CONTINENCE” Clinical trial.
EP28 - Community Episode: SpineX's Neuromodulation for Incontinence with Dr. Parag Gad
EP27 - Scholarly Episode: SpineX's Neuromodulation for Incontinence with Dr. Parag Gad
*This episode was recorded in collaboration with "Bladder Buzz" - the podcast series that brings together physicians, researchers, and individuals living with Neurogenic Bladder. Bladder Buzz Podcast (buzzsprout.com)

March, 2024
Spasticity and Early Motor Recovery after SCI with Dr. Sina Sangari
Join us this episode for a conversation with Dr. Sina Sangari of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab for a conversation about the paper titled "Spasticity Predicts Motor Recovery for Patients with Subacute Motor Complete Spinal Cord Injury" published in the journal Annals of Neurology. Regardless of the functional implications of spasms, Dr. Sangari and his colleagues explain the prognostic value that spasticity, early after an acquired spinal cord injury, can have in predicting recovery of volitional motor function.
EP30 - Community Episode - Spasticity and Early Motor Recovery after SCI with Dr. Sina Sangari
EP29 - Scholarly Episode - Spasticity and Early Motor Recovery after SCI with Dr. Sina Sangari

May, 2024
The Time Is Now for Nontraumatic SCI
Join us in this episode for a panel conversation on expert consensus, best practices, and future directions for classifying and tracking outcomes for people living with nontraumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) with Alexandra Bennewith, MPA; Keara McNair, OTR/L, BCPR, ATP; Kristen Walden, BS; Ron Reeves, MD; and Stephen Burns, MD. Disorders of the spinal cord come in many forms, and when categorizing based on cause there has historically been an emphasis placed on traumatic—e.g., from an impact—SCI. As put forth by this panel of nontraumatic experts selected by ASIA's Education Committee, the time has come to integrate nontraumatic SCI into the existing networks of standardized reporting. We hope you enjoy these episodes as we usher in an era in the union of SCI across etiology.
EP32 - Community Episode - The Time Is Now for Nontraumatic SCI
EP31 - Scholarly Episode - The Time Is Now for Nontraumatic SCI

August, 2024
Motherhood after SCI with Dr. Allison Kessler
Join us in this episode for a conversation with Allison Kessler, MD, MSc on the topic of motherhood after spinal cord injury (SCI). In this conversation, Dr. Kessler discusses two recent publications that apply to the topic of motherhood after SCI: the peer-reviewed Motherhood after Spinal Cord Injury: Breastfeeding, Autonomic Dysreflexia, and Psychosocial Health: Clinical Practice Guidelines, and the corresponding "Consumer Guideline Breastfeeding Following SCI: A Consumer Guide for Mothers." We hope you enjoy this exploration of the important topic of mothering after SCI, with Dr. Allison Kessler.
EP34 - Community Episode - Motherhood after SCI
EP33 - Scholarly Episode - Motherhood after SCI

September, 2024
Staying Up To Date on the Neurological Exam with Dr. Rudiger Rupp
The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) institutionalized, and now stewards, the International Standards for the Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) exam, the most ubiquitous neurological exam performed for spinal cord injury (SCI). Join us in this episode with Dr. Rudiger Rupp for a deep dive on the most recent update to the ISNCSCI, headed by ASIA's International Standards Committee chaired by Dr. Rupp. We hope you enjoy this zoom into the zone of partial preservation (ZPP) and non-SCI taxonomy, with Dr. Rudiger Rupp.
EP36 - Community Episode - Staying Up To Date on the Neurological Exam
EP35 - Scholarly Episode - Staying Up To Date on the Neurological Exam

October, 2024
The 2024 Annual Meeting
Join us for conversations from the 2024 American Spinal Injury Association Annual Scientific meeting in Puerto Rico.  Along with a presidential handoff from Suzanne Groah, MD, to Susan Charlifue, PhD—the first time in ASIA's history that an acting female president has handed the torch to an incoming female president— we also chat with award winners in both poster and oral format presentations. We hope you enjoy this episode as we remember the 2024 annual meeting and usher in a new president.
EP37 -  Administrative - Passing the Presidential torch and Meet the 2024 Award Winners! 

November, 2024
Bringing People Living with SCI into the Medical Classroom
Join us for the episode for a conversation with Drs. Ona Bloom and Adam Stein on the topic of including people living with spinal cord injury (SCI) in the medical education (MD) curriculum. In this conversation we discuss the paper titled "Experiences and recommendations from people with spinal cord injury following participation in a disability education session at an allopathic medical school: a qualitative study" published in the journal Spinal Cord Series and Cases. We hope you enjoy this exploration of the important topic of lived-experience consultation in medical education, with Drs. Ona Bloom and Adam Stein.
EP39 - Community - Bringing People Living with SCI into the Medical Classroom with Drs. Ona Bloom and Adam Stein
EP38 - Scholarly - Bringing People Living with SCI into the Medical Classroom with Drs. Ona Bloom and Adam Stein

February, 2023
Neuroprosthetic Baroreflex Controls Haemodynamics after Spinal Cord Injury
A talk with Dr. Aaron Phillips about his peer reviewed paper published in the journal Nature.  In this episode we talk with Dr. Phillips about high impact translational science for industry-partnered development of a neuromodulation device. In the project, Dr. Phillips and his team used various preclinical models to learn about and tune the manufacturing of an epidural (surgically implanted) spinal cord stimulator, and accompanying closed loop “biomimetic” stimulation paradigm, for optimally delivering electricity to the cord to control blood pressure.
EP14 – Community Episode – Neuroprosthetic Baroreflex Controls Haemodynamics after Spinal Cord Injury
EP13 – Scholarly Episode – Neuroprosthetic Baroreflex Controls Haemodynamics after Spinal Cord Injury

March, 2023
The SCI Traveler
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Niña Carmela Tamayo about the resource document “The SCI Traveler: Navigating Barriers to Domestic and International Travel” (Just released: https://asia-spinalinjury.org/scitraveler22/ )
EP16 – Community Episode – ASIA’s The SCI Traveler with Dr. Niña Carmela Tamayo
EP15 – Scholarly Episode – ASIA’s The SCI Traveler with Dr. Niña Carmela Tamayo

April, 2023
SCI Respiratory Rehab in Latin America
In this episode, we speak with Isaac Hernández Jiménez, M.D., about their paper titled “The state of spinal cord injury respiratory rehabilitation in Latin America” published in The Journal of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.

EP18 – Community Episode – SCI Respiratory Rehab in Latin America
EP17 – Scholarly Episode – SCI Respiratory Rehab in Latin America

May, 2023
Electrical Stimulation for Cough
Stephane Philippe-Ratway, a Speech-Language Pathologist, discusses her Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Allied Health Professional Research Award of ASIA titled “The Use of Functional Electrical Stimulation in Conjunction with Respiratory Muscle Training to improve unaided cough in individuals with Acute Spinal Cord Injury.” https://asia-spinalinjury.org/research-awards/neilsen-info/

EP20 – Community Episode – Electrical Stimulation for Cough
EP19- Scholarly Episode – Electrical Stimulation for Cough

August, 2023
ASIA 2023 Awardees
In this administrative episode we speak with some of this year’s recipients of the Annual Awards of ASIA, awarded as part of the ASIA 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting. Each guest introduces themself and the project they were awarded for, and then gives a brief (~3 min) synopsis of the project and (~2 min) followup on future directions.
EP21 – Meet this year’s award winners from ASIA’s 50th Annual Scientific Meeting!

October, 2023
The Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Fellowship (SCIMF)
Two insider perspectives on the Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Fellowship (SCIMF) that leads to the boarded “SCI docs”. Dr. Doug Ota, a Program Director, gives an overview and history of the SCIMF while Dr. Marla Petriello, a recent SCIM Fellow, shares her recent experience with undergoing the fellowship as an early career physiatrist.
EP22 – The Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Fellowship (SCIMF)

November, 2023
Past, Present, and Future of Riluzole in Acute SCI with Dr. Michael Fehlings
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Michael Fehlings, the most cited neurosurgeon ever on the topic of spinal cord injury for a conversation about the pharmaceutical agent riluzole for the treatment of acute spinal cord injury (SCI). Dr. Fehlings walks us through the past, present, and future of this drug that has proven efficacy in other neurological conditions and that might serve an important role in initial phases of treating SCI.
EP24 – Community Episode: Past, Present, and Future of Riluzole in Acute SCI with Dr. Michael Fehlings
EP23 – Scholarly Episode: Past, Present, and Future of Riluzole in Acute SCI with Dr. Michael Fehlings

January, 2022
Welcome to SCI Science Perspectives
Meet the ASIA Podcast founders and producers, Dr. Suzanne Groah, Dr. Marla Petriello, and Dr. David W. McMillan who talk about the anatomy and physiology of the SCI Science Perspectives podcast.
EP001 – Admin EP001 – Welcome to SCI Science Perspectives

Dr. Steven Kirshblum talks about the International Standards for the Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) exam- commonly referred to as the “ASIA exam”.
Dr. Kirshblum’s talkes abouit the recent paper titled “Characterizing Natural Recovery after Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury”
EP003 – Community Episode – The ASIA Exam with Dr. Steven Kirshblum
EP002 – Scholarly Episode – The ISNCSCI Exam with Dr. Steven Kirshblum

Dr. James Milligan discusses the paper “A Primary Care Provider’s Guide to Preventive Health After Spinal Cord Injury” published in Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation.
https://doi.org/10.46292/sci2603-209)
EP005 – Community Episode – Primary Care for SCI with James Milligan
EP004 – Scholarly Episode – Primary Care for SCI with James Milligan

Dr. Melina Longoni Di Giusto and Nishu Tyagi talk about the paper titled “COVID-19 and spinal cord injury and disease: results of an international survey as the pandemic progresses” published in 2021 in the journal Spinal Cord Series and Cases
(doi: 10.1038/s41394-020-00356-4).
EP007 – Community Episode – Pandemic progress with Dr. Melina Longoni Di Gusto and Nishu Tyagi
EP006 – Scholarly Episode – Pandemic progress with Dr. Melina Longoni Di Gusto and Nishu Tyagi

Dr. Jacob Long talks about his 2019 Neilsen-ASIA Research Award project titled “Does the Speed of Robotic Leg Movements During Tilt-Table Verticalization Mitigate Orthostatic Hypotension in Subacute SCI?” Note: this episode was recorded live in New Orleans at the 2022 American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) annual scientific meeting.
EP009 – Community Episode – Robotic Legs for Blood Pressure, Live from the 2022 Meeting, with Dr. Jacob Long
EP008 – Scholarly Episode – Legs for Blood Pressure, Live from the 2022 Meeting, with Dr. Jacob Long

A Discussion with Drs. Andrei Krassioukov and Suzanne Groah about their American Spinal Injury Association Presidency.
Parts of this episode were recorded live in New Orleans at the 2022 American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans.
EP10 Administrative Episode –  Presidential Handoff with Dr. Andrei Krassioukov and Dr. Suzanne Groah

We speak with this year’s six recipients of named awards, awarded as part of the ASIA 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting. Guests include:
1. C. Kevin Park, MD – Anthony F. DiMarco Fellowship Award: “Benefit of Mechanical Insufflation-Exsufflation (MIE) on Ventilator Dependent Spinal Cord Injury Patients in Acute Rehabilitation Center.”
2. Michael G. Fehlings, MD – Apple Award: “The Influence of Timing of Surgical Decompression for Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Pooled Analysis of Individual Patient Data.”
3. Blake Perkins, PT, DPT, ATP – Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Allied Health Professional Research Award of ASIA: “Reversing the Trend: Provisional Clinical Strategy to Mitigate Incidence and Impact of Wheelchair Repairs in Spinal Cord Injury?”
4. Alberto Isaac Perez SanPablo, DSc – Mulcahey Award for Research in Outcomes Measurement: “Reliability and Validity of the Assessment of Trunk Control in Pediatric Subjects with Spinal Cord Injury using Smartphones.”
5. Andrew Smith, PT, DPT, PhD – Translational Research or Human Neuroscience Studies in Spinal Cord Injury (TRoHNS) Award: “Epidural stimulation-promoted standing ability and spinal cord lesion characteristics in motor complete SCI.”
6. Matthew Hanks, PhD, ATC – Vogel Award: “The Influence of Sex on Upper Extremity Joint Dynamics in Pediatric Manual Wheelchair Users with Spinal Cord Injury.”
EP11 – Episode – ASIA 2022 Named Awards

A talk with this year’s six recipients of oral or poster awards, awarded as part of the ASIA 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting. Each guest introduces themself and the project they were awarded for, and then gives a brief (3 min) synopsis of the project and (~2 min) followup on future directions.
EP12 Administrative Episode – ASIA 2022 Awardess Oral and Poster Awards