#Spinal Cord Injury #Advocacy Campaign #BreakThru SCI

BreakThru SCI Launches Advocacy Mission for Spinal Cord Injury Treatments

In a significant step towards addressing the urgent needs of the spinal cord injury community, BreakThru SCI has officially commenced its advocacy mission, designed to expedite the approval of promising treatments. This national campaign aims to mobilize support from policymakers, advocacy groups, and key industry stakeholders to ensure a timely and patient-focused regulatory review process for restorative therapies.

On September 17, BreakThru SCI will host a much-anticipated Congressional Briefing in Washington, D.C. The briefing, marking SCI Awareness Month, will take place at 12:30 PM EST in Room G11 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, providing a platform for educating Members of Congress, their staff, and the wider community about spinal cord injury (SCI) and emerging restorative therapies. The session will explore the biological complexities of SCI, share the experiences of clinical-trial patients, and outline regulatory pathways that address high unmet needs within the SCI community.

Dr. Janet Woodcock, former Acting Commissioner of the FDA, is expected to deliver remarks at the briefing, emphasizing the importance of advocacy organizations like BreakThru SCI in shaping the regulatory landscape. She recognizes the critical role of patient engagement in the development of therapies that truly resonate with those living with spinal cord injuries.

Living with SCI can drastically alter an individual’s life in mere seconds, resulting in paralysis and a myriad of physical, emotional, and financial challenges. In the U.S., over 300,000 individuals are currently living with SCI, and yet, no FDA-approved therapies exist to restore function post-injury. Despite the ongoing quest for effective treatments, a wave of novel restorative therapies is entering clinical trials, bringing new hope to the SCI community. It’s vital that these therapies are evaluated through the lens of patient experiences, recognizing that recovery is unique for each individual.

Maggie Goldberg, CEO of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, voiced her support for BreakThru SCI's mission, aligning it with the Foundation’s goal of finding cures for spinal cord injuries. As the SCI community sees a growing demand for organized advocacy, both organizations are determined to place the patients' priorities at the forefront of regulatory decision-making.

BreakThru SCI draws inspiration from a family’s journey following their son’s cervical spinal cord injury. Their experience in a pioneering clinical trial highlighted both the possibilities of emerging therapies and the necessity for recognizing the distinctiveness of each individual's injury.

Suzy Scherb, Executive Director of BreakThru SCI, passionately asserts, “Every spinal cord injury is like a snowflake. No two are the same.