Submit our online Research Inquiry and select that you are interested in our research programs. Individuals interested in participating in our research studies will be added to our potential research participant database and will be contacted by our research staff once they have been identified as meeting study criteria.

Submitting our online inquiry form for Research means that your information will be added to our potential research participant database. Researchers will review the database and will contact the individuals that meet the research subject criteria based on the study protocol.

We provide information packets through the mail so that interested parties may be informed of the many opportunities for individuals with spinal cord injury through the collaborative efforts of the University of Louisville, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Healthcare, and Frazier Rehab Institute. Receiving a packet does not mean that you have been selected to be a research participant. Research participation is determined by a number of factors and generally will include an in-house evaluation to be performed at Frazier Rehab Institute. Findings during the evaluation will determine if the interested party is eligible to participate in one of our research studies.

There is no particular age limit for research in general. However, each research protocol will have its own age criteria based on the study. -return to top of page

To determine research eligibility, research investigators compare their specific study needs to the potential participant database and select those that best meet their participant study requirements. -return to top of page

Time commitments for research studies vary and would be discussed prior to participation. -return to top of page

After information from the Research Inquiry is added to our potential participant database, a research staff member will determine if individuals meet the criteria for a specific study. Those individuals who meet the study requirements will be contacted to confirm their interest and will be given further details about the study. Individuals who are ineligible for our active studies will remain in our database for future research opportunities. -return to top of page

If you are already in our database, and you need to update some of your information, you can call 1-866-540-7719. -return to top of page

Yes, functional electrical stimulation is not uncommon in people with spinal cord injuries. But the Epidural Stimulation study is not about stimulating muscle. In this case, epidural stimulation activated nerve circuits that exist in the spinal cord, with the intent of substituting for nerve signals that would normally have come from the brain to modulate these spinal networks. Stimulation of the spinal circuitry itself activates what scientists call a central pattern generator – a network of nerves that are able to initiate stepping function without input from the brain. -return to top of page

In FES, stimulation is applied to your muscles via electrodes that adhere to your skin. Only a small portion of the muscle under and around each electrode is receiving stimulation from the electrode. -return to top of page

In epidural spinal cord stimulation, a lead with electrodes is surgically implanted over the spinal cord. A stimulator/battery pack is also implanted on the abdomen or back. The electrode array is implanted at the level of the spinal cord circuitry for locomotion. Epidural stimulation activates these loco motor centers and allows for the interpretation of other key information needed for walking, standing and other tasks. -return to top of page

Although theoretical and animal research has been going on for many years, investigators are just beginning to develop an effective treatment for human spinal cord injury. Before this intervention can move into the public area its safety and efficacy must be established in many patients. Approval by the Food and Drug Administration is also required. In addition, more sophisticated stimulation equipment needs to be developed. Scientists are also hoping to find the right pharmacological agents to boost the treatment's effectiveness. -return to top of page

The maps & directions page also includes a list of hotels and rentals available in the area. -return to top of page

Submit our online Clinical Programs Inquiry and select that you are interested in Clinical Programs and/or Community Fitness & Wellness. -return to top of page

Submitting our Clinical Programs online inquiry form demonstrates your interest in our Clinical Programs. After your inquiry is reviewed, you will be contacted by a clinical team member to further discuss our clinical program opportunities. -return to top of page

We provide information packets through the mail so that interested parties may be informed of the many opportunities for individuals with spinal cord injury through the collaborative efforts of the University of Louisville, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Healthcare, and Frazier Rehab Institute.

Individuals interested in clinical programs can submit our online form and select clinical programs at the bottom of the form as an area of interest. Once the form is submitted, the contact information will be sent to our clinical staff, and you will be contacted to discuss your options. -return to top of page

No. -return to top of page

For more information, please visit our Outpatient Therapy site. -return to top of page

For more information, please visit our Locomotor Training (LT) site. -return to top of page

Each session generally lasts 1.5 hours. When a patient enters the program, they begin having 5 Loco motor training sessions a week on 5 separate days. As they progress through the phases of recovery, the number of sessions and days per week decline; 4 days/week and then 3 days/week. -return to top of page